THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of ninth week in Ordinary Time, 2021

Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17

Ps 25

Mark 12:18-27

God of the living…

Dear friends in Christ, there are times when the going gets tough, when life throws everything negative in ones way. In such a moment, it is easy to lose faith and give in. There are however stories of courageous people who have trusted in God even in the most difficult of circumstances and the result has been a reversal of their ill-fortunes and a return to the path of success beyond expectations.

Today’s first reading (Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a) continues the story of Tobit. Taunted by the wife for his complain and blushing on the kid she brought into the house, Tobit felt pained and went into prayer. He exalted the righteousness of God and considered his condition might be as a result of sin, known or unknown as he said, “O Lord, remember me and look favourably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before me.” In fact, Tobit prayed for death, according to him, “For it is better for me to die than to see so much distress in my life and to listen to such insults.” May we not be tempted beyond our capacity to hope! The author reveals to us that Tobit was not the only one going through a tough time. Sarah, a daughter of a well to do man, had been waiting too in sorrow, she has been given out in marriage seven times and her husbands died during their honeymoon. She has also been ridiculed by her maids. She was deeply grieved in spirit and wept. She went up and wanted to take her own life, but at a second thought that she is the only child of her father who was in his old age, she decided instead to pray to God so she might die. Her prayer was answered on that day. Never give up no matter the situation. Do not give up on prayer, do not give up on good deeds. When you learn to commit your struggles to God, sooner or later, the result will be there for all to see.

In the gospel (Mark 12:18-27) the Sadducees intending to test Jesus on the issue of resurrection and life after death, posed a story like that of Sarah. If seven brothers were to marry the same woman, one after the other and all died without any child with her, whose wife will she be in the after life? Jesus explained to them that in the after life, we will be like angels. Marriage and family life belongs to this world. There will be no more death in that place where we will live with God for all eternity for as God said, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not God of the dead, but of the living…” We serve a living God, his ways are different from ours. Though we desire quick solutions to our problems, we need patience when dealing with God.

Let us pray: O God come to our aid, O Lord make haste to help us. Amen. 

+Remain blessed