Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

The first reading for today from the Book of Tobit is a great passage. It makes much more sense in its fuller context, the rest of chapter 2 as well as chapter 3. It is about Tobit, a just man, who does good. He is just, following God to the best of his abilities and loving his neighbors. In fact, when we encounter Tobit in this passage, he takes it upon himself to bury the dead, and he even sleeps outside, likely because of his ritual impurity for having touched a dead person. It is while he is asleep that he goes blind from the bird droppings that affect his eyes.

We don't see God healing his blindness until 4 years later in the next chapter of Tobit, but we see his wife berate him, like Job, even though Tobit, again like Job, has done no wrong. If anything, Tobit is displaying his righteousness in his good actions.

God eventually comes to Tobit's aid and gives him his sight back. But even physically blind, Tobit is able to "see" what needs to be done, and he follows God. It is Tobit's righteousness that gives him a spiritual sight even when he has lost his physical sight.

As today's Psalmist explains, Tobit's heart is firm, for he trusts in the Lord. Let the image of Tobit be one of encouragement for us. May he inspire us to follow the Lord, and perform the corporal works of mercy. Even when ourlives become difficult and trying, we must trust in the Lord. For it is when we place our complete trust in the Lord that we truly have eyes to see.

- Jeff Morrow