9th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 6th June 2023 – Tobit 2,19-14; Mk 12,13-17
Give Generously Receive Graciously
In the first reading, Tobit, a generous and loving caretaker, develops cataracts after bird droppings fell on his eyes. Since he is not able to be the breadwinner for the family, his wife takes up weaving to support the family. When the wife delivers her work to a customer, she is given a bonus of a young goat to be eaten. It was clearly an act of kindness to a woman who was trying to support herself and her husband. Nevertheless, Tobit does not believe that others can be generous to his family, just as Tobit had been generous before he lost his vision. He accused his wife of stealing the goat. A cynic once said that, to the pure, all things are impure. In the same way, Tobit, undoubtedly a good and very sincere person, became a victim of his own high ideals and failed to see that his own nearest and dearest deserved the same charity from others. He was uncomfortable at the receiving end of someone else’s generosity and became judgmental of his wife’s honest earnings. Unlike Tobit, not only we need to be generous givers, but also gracious receivers. God wants to give us both directly and through the kindness of other people. It is all part of God’s caring for us. The fitting response is to give thanks to God and to those who are instrumental in sharing God’s graciousness.
