This entire week, the first readings revolved around the interlinked stories of Tobit and Sarah, and the key role of God's undercover agent, Archangel Raphael.
Our prayers are brought and read out loud to God by the angels. God also charges them with undercover work sometimes - to do some verification prior to dispensing special blessings and graces. This is what Raphael did, when God decided to hit two birds with, essentially, one stone ... that gave birth to a beautiful love story.
"At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both ..." (Tobit 3:16-17)
Sometimes, when everything seems hopeless, God turns things around and it, inevitably, catches us blindsided. He delights in surprising us and exceeding (and, I mean, EXCEEDING) expectations. And, if you take the time to reflect, you will see He likes putting in a subtle touch of comedy as well. It's amazingly witty, actually.
So just hang tight.
Tobit "walked all the days of my [his] life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I [He] performed many charitable works for my [his] kinsmen and my [his] people who had been deported with me [him] to Nineveh, Assyria." (Tobit 1:3)
He remained faithful to God's teachings even at the risk of execution. And he did so with love. "And I wept.Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him. The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another: 'He is still not afraid! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has escaped, here he is again burying the dead!'" (Tobit 2:7-8)
Just like Job, he was tested by God. He became blind because of bird droppings that landed on his eyes, causing cataracts. It was, understandably, particularly difficult ... "She said to me, 'It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.' Yet I would not believe her, and told her to give it back to its owners. I became very angry with her over this. So she retorted: 'Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself!'" (Tobit 2:14)
It was enough reminder for him and, overwhelmed, he prayed for death: "You are righteous, O Lord, and all your deeds are just; all your ways are mercy and truth; you are the judge of the world. And now, O Lord, may you be mindful of me, and look with favor upon me ... Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish; let me go to the everlasting abode; Lord, refuse me not. For it is better for me to die than to endure so much misery in life, and to hear these insults!" (Tobit 3:1-3, 6-7)
I'm guessing God must have been cracking up at this point ... because He was whipping up a masterfully crafted miracle. You see, at the same time, Sarah was also praying.
Sarah
Sarah, up at that point, was a total failure in love and marriage. She had been married seven (yes, SEVEN) times to seven different men, who all died before she could lay with them. The demon Asmodeus killed them. Naturally, she was mocked and accused of killing her husbands. She contemplated suicide, but decided against it, worried that her father will be mocked for it. So, just like Tobit, she prayed for death. "Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God and blessed is your holy and honorable name. Blessed are you in all your works forever!" (Tobit 3:11)
Both Tobit's and Sarah's prayers started out with praising God and contained two important elements:
- Belief that everything that has happened in their lives, God had allowed to happen for a reason.
- Faith that God is merciful and just; thus, He will make things right.
"Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just." (Psalm 112:4)
"So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit's eyes, so that he might again see God's sunlight; and to marry Raguel's daughter Sarah to Tobit's son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her." (Tobit 3:17)
"I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord ... I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord." (Tobit 12:12-15)
Boom!
The Love Story
Tobit decided that his son Tobiah should marry Sarah. When Tobiah went off to claim Sarah's hand in marriage, Raphael came with him. (This is probably where "wingman" came from - get it?).
Raguel, Sarah's father, was upfront with Tobiah on the "seven-dead-husbands" issue. But Tobiah fully trusted in God's will. So did Raguel, who then said: "I am sure the Lord will look after you both ... Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved. She is yours today and ever after. And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace." (Tobit 7:11)
Sarah's mother also blessed them: "Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord grant you joy in place of your grief. Courage, my daughter." (Tobit 7:17)
The parents' blessings were important, yes, but there was one thing that sealed the success of Tobiah's and Sarah's marriage. They made it a marriage of three. "Be with someone that will carry you closer to God." (quote from a friend)
"...Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife, 'My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.' ... 'Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.'" (Tobit 8:4-7)
"True intimacy is more than fooling around with somebody you're attracted to. I want to share myself with somebody who will press her hands through the surface of my skin, curl herself up inside my soul and say, 'Here, this is who I am'" (Beau Taplin, Intimacy)
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