9th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 7th June 2023 – Tobit 3,1-11.16-17; Mk 12,18-27
God Responds, Sends and Unfolds Plans
In the first reading, Tobit and Sarah, both raise a prayer to God in deep distress. They feel that life is no longer worth living and seek to end the misery of their lives. Tobit experiences a lot of trials due to his blindness. As a result of all the hardships, he prays that God will allow him to die. This is similar to earlier prophets and holy men, who requested to leave this life of misery – Moses (Num 11,15); Elijah (1 Kgs 9,14); Jonah (4,3.8); and Job (7,15). At the same time, Tobit’s future daughter-in-law, Sarah prays that God will take her life. She thought of ending her own life by hanging. She has been married seven times, and before she was to consummate her marriage, her husband died. In both cases, God responds to Tobit, an older man and Sarah, the young woman; but they must lift up their prayers to God. In prayer, God sends a messenger of hope and good news to both through Raphael meaning “God’s healing”. And God unfolds His own plans; Thus, He brings together the two previously unconnected victims in an unexpected way.
