07/06/2023

Each individual one of us lives out our lives in a unique way. We are each a complete being and each of us lives in God's Providence with complete freedom as to how to react in our encounter to the many faceted reality that is our world. 

The story of Tobit is the story of one man and his reaction to his circumstances in life. He is more than miserable; he is lamenting his condition but knows that it is God's Providence, not an impersonal "fate", that has brought him so low. Just as I am now alone responding to the Scriptures with my individual being there were thousands of others then reacting to reality as they experienced it. All human life is unique as is each moment of time.

Tobit who knows his own sins calls out to God for forgiveness. Amongst the millions living then, Sarah heard the disrespect in which she was held by her father's slaves. Sarah had been brought low by the mysterious deaths of her potential husbands. As she contemplated suicide her conscience called her to a better way to confront her reality. She and her family knew the Law and so she turned in prayer to the Lord.

Jesus in the Gospel is confronted by the "No life after death" wing of the Temple Authorities who put a carefully crafted "thought experiment" question to him. They were used to catching each other out by sophistry but the human intelligence of  Jesus was enough to unravel their nonsense. It is not, however, human intelligence that tells us that after our resurrection, the last day, " we will be like "angels" and that there will be no marriage  for it is the Son who reveals this to us all.

Dear Lord, let me remember the joy which has inspired the psalm today. Let me know your ways and let me follow them with sincerity of heart and firmness of will. May Mary who displayed only faithfulness during her time on earth bring comfort to souls suffering in purgatory and open the eyes of us all on earth to the way, truth, life that is Jesus, Son of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.