The first reading today is from the Book of Tobit, a book considered Deutero-Canonical – meaning Catholic and Greek Orthodox recognize it as part of the canon of Sacred Scripture (as they have since the 4th century), but not so the Reform and Protestant denominations.

The Book of Tobit, named after its principal character, combines Jewish piety and morality with folklore in a fascinating story that has enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles. Prayers, psalms, and words of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself, provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious milieu of its unknown author. The book was probably written early in the second century B.C.; it is not known where.

The inspired author of the book used the literary form of religious novel (as in Esther and Judith) for the purpose of instruction and edification. The seemingly historical data, names of kings, cities, etc., are used as vivid details not only to create interest and charm, but also to illustrate the negative side of the theory of retribution: the wicked are indeed punished. Although the Book of Tobit is usually listed with the historical books, it more correctly stands midway between them and the wisdom literature.

Interestingly, the 16th century reformers removed Tobit from the canon of Scripture, in part, because it was not in Hebrew. In 1952 fragments of the Book of Tobit were discovered written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The discovered text agreed with the Greek Septuagint version of Tobit.

The book (and our reading) begin:

“I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people who had been deported with me to Nineveh, in Assyria.” (Tobit)

The opening passage then describes this righteous man, living in exile under the rule of a foreign power which means to suppress and eliminate his faith and tradition, nonetheless, Tobit does what is righteous and asked of him by the Covenant Law.

In today’s gospel, Jesus’ parable reveals that very character as of the nature of God, righteous and doing what is necessary so that all might be saved.

It is what is asked of us as modern-day Christians living in a secular world. Be righteous and do what is needed and asked of us by the God our of New Covenant. Inaction and silence were not an option for Tobit, nor are they for us.

Image credit: “The Healing of Tobit” by unknown student of Michiel Coxie, c. 1570-160, Royal Collection Trust of England, Public Domain