Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Some years ago while going through a particularly dark time, I attended our annual parish retreat. At one point we were given the opportunity to choose a stone from many varied stones placed on a table. Each stone had one of the fruits of the Spirit written on it, but the stones were placed with the word facing down so that we did not know which “fruit” we were choosing. I was moved to tears when walking back to my pew I turned my stone over and read “Joy.” I had not experienced joy in a while and recognized that God knew it was the one that I truly needed. This is what came to me as I reflected on today’s reading from the Book of Tobit.
Tuesday through Saturday this week we read from the short book of Tobit. We hear of the suffering Tobit has endured, as well as that of a young woman/girl named Sarah who would become Tobit and Anna’s daughter-in-law. In this story, God sends the angel Raphael to heal them both after this period of darkness (literally, Tobit was in a time of darkness as he had lost his sight). Today’s reading tells of the blessings finally bestowed upon Tobit and his family; blessings that led to great joy not only for them, but “for all the Jews who lived in Nineveh.”
I don’t think I’m alone in often experiencing greater joy after a time of suffering and loss. It doesn’t necessarily come all at once, but sometimes in unexpected or surprising ways, like my retreat experience that opened the door for joy to re-enter my life. I am reminded again today that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Having recently celebrated Pentecost, it seems timely.
Which fruit is most lacking for you today? There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22). Let us pray for the Spirit to fill our greatest need; not simply for our own sake, but for the blessing it will bring to the greater community.
~Eileen Miller