The first reading today is again from the Book of Tobit, as are all the first readings from this 9th Week of Ordinary Time. Tobit has fallen on hard times. His property has been confiscated, he has been blinded by bird droppings and is now four years blind, his wife has been put to work, his mood is sour and melancholy, and his wife questions what has become of his righteousness and charity.

Yesterday, the post ended with the question of what will Tobit do? Would he be steadfast in his trust of God? Today we hear his despair. He knows that he and the other Israelites are in exile from the Promised Land because of the sins of the people. Sins Tobit acknowledges are rightly punished. The unsaid question is “why me?” It is all too much. He asks for death rather than to endure the life he seems to have. He is not ready to wait upon the Lord.

And then the scene changes. Far away, Tobit’s father-in-law’s daughter has her own problems. Sarah had seven husbands die by demons before they could sleep with her. The household servants accuse her of strangling her husbands and curse her that she would never have children. Sarah considers suicide by hanging, but decides against it, because it would give her father shame. Instead, she prays

“Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God, and blessed is your holy and honorable name. Blessed are you in all your works for ever!” The reading does not include all the biblical text, but this is also a prayer for death.

The dual prayers are heard in heaven.

The wisdom of the Book of Tobit is the teaching that if we are willing to turn our hearts, troubled as they might be, if we are willing to God, our prayers are heard.

Let us each examine our own lives and recount those troubled moments – did we turn to despair or to God.

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