Divine Counsel

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 9th Week of Ordinary Time, Year 1, June 5th, 2021
Texts: Tobit 12:1.5-15.20; Ps. Tobit 13:1.2.3-4a.6.8; Mark 12:38-44
The journey with God is often filled with extraordinary experiences: Trials, vindication, zeal for holiness, healing, victory over evil, favour, protection, loving care, success, etc. Tobit was tried with blindness and was healed. Hence, he says, "Blessed be God, who lives forever. For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades, and brings up again, and there is no one who can escape his hand" (Tobit 13:1b-2). For the just, trials are meant to manifest the glory of God: he afflicts to show his healing. When a wicked man is afflicted, he knows no healing, unless he repents. For the just too, trial purifies, breaks ego, brings to mind the sense of being human and preserves humility; God also uses it as a remedy to save us from a worse situation. Trial also enables us to feel for others, understand and tolerate them.
When we walk with God, He inspires us to do the right thing. Angel Raphael inspired Tobias to marry Sarah and inherit her father’s property. A walk with God also brings victory over the evil one. This manifests in the healing of Sarah: The devil fleed, angel Raphael chased him, caught up with him and chained him up (Tobit 8:2-3). In today's first reading, angel Raphael says, "And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, I was sent to test you. So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in- law Sarah."
Having witnessed the greatness of God, His love and mercy, His glory and power, Tobit decided to show gratitude by giving half of what his son brought from the Journey. In those days, giving half of one's property is the greatest way of showing gratitude; you make the person equal with yourself; you raise him to the same status with yourself; you see him not as a servant but friends. It is always good to show gratitude for every kind gesture done to us. Today angel Raphael tells us how to show gratitude to God.
God does not need food or any form of material gift. Angel Raphael tells us to praise God. He says, “Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God, and with fitting honour to acknowledge him".
Angel Raphael continues in his counsel by telling us to do good and avoid evil. He asks us to embrace righteousness and charity and tells us that it pays to engage in them. In his own words: "Do good, and evil will not overtake you. Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life; but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives."
Jesus, in today's gospel reading, warns us against showoff and calls us to charity. He asks us to guard against the life of the scribes, which is about desire for honour and empty show of righteousness. In the account of the life of the widow, he tells to love God with all we have, that is, to make him the priority of our lives.
St. Bonifaçe, whose memorial is today, is known as an apostle of Germany because he organised the Church there in 8th century. His name Bonifaçe means "doer of good". His name calls to mind that we are to do good and avoid evil. In a letter by him he says, "Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations. Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful and he tells us: My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Today's Office of the Reading, copied from universalis).

Lord Jesus, thank you for the number of ways you have been giving us your counsels, help us to abide by them. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke