Faith and Consequences

Understanding Tobit

In the stories of Tobit just before today’s reading

Tobit is shown as:

Devout

faithful

trusting deeply that God rewards good and punishes evil

People think he is foolish to risk himself and his family

-by carrying out forbidden acts of charity.

He seems foolish to us for his anger and suspicion of his wife

-and maybe also for his recklessness with his charity.

His actions and the (re)actions of others in the story make sense:

in the culture and belief of his day

for the purposes of this story, ie

an extended fable meant to show that

despite appearances, trusting in God’s protection is

not vain

or foolish

or reckless

but that God rewards

in his own time

in his own way

That’s a lesson I’ve had to learn and relearn and (re)call to mind

-all through my life.

Maybe you can relate.

Life Has a Way…

of challenging our faith

upsetting our plans l

upsetting our plans

leading us to question whether God has any intention of honoring his biblical promises.

Tobit Wants to Assure Us

that God does honor his promises

but in ways that we never expect

and may not recognise when they come.

"Blessed be God who lives forever,

because his kingship lasts for all ages.

For he afflicts and shows mercy,

casts down to the depths of Hades,

brings up from the great abyss.

What is there that can snatch from his hand? "

I’m still working on this aspect of faith

Maybe you can relate.