Word to the Wise
Friday, June 5, 2009 - St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
[Tobit 11:5-17 and Mark 12:35-37]When Tobit saw his son, he threw his arms around him and wept. He exclaimed, "I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!
This line is a climactic moment in a wonderful story in the Bible: the Book of Tobit! While medical professionals would probably advise against using fish gall to remedy cataracts, the entire tale is one of overcoming great obstacles with the help of God. Tobit's "canticle" on receiving his sight recognizes God's action in all things, including the "scourge" of his blindness. His son, Tobiah, also recounts his adventures (with the angel, Raphael, as a guide, no less) and how he came to marry Sara, who had suffered the loss of seven grooms! When we read the scriptures, especially certain books of the Old Testament, we learn the power of "storytelling" that is such an important part of any culture where reading and writing are rare. It is also important to remember that storytelling does not mean just fiction or myth. It can be the recollection of one or more individuals of an event or person with whom they had personal experience! The theologian, John Shea, once wrote: "All stories are true. Some of them even happen!" Spending the time to read the Book of Tobit or the Prophet Jonah in the Old Testament can help us learn the different ways in which the truth about God has been communicated. We will also learn that it is still being communicated to us when we do that reading. AMEN