Biblical novella worth reading
September 27, 2023 - Wednesday, Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Tobit 13:2-4; 7-8
The Book of Tobit is one of the seven books that are not included either in the Jewish or Protestant Bibles. The reason that the Jews did not include it in their canon is the fact that we only have a Greek copy of that book. The reason Martin Luther and subsequent Protestant tradition removed it from Christian Bibles is related to its theological message. The Book of Tobit stresses the importance of good needs in the life of God’s faithful people, and how God rewards their faithfulness to him. The Book includes a statement that, taken out of context, contradicts the main tenet of the Protestant Reformation: “Sola Fides – Only Faith”. God’s messenger, archangel Raphael, tells the family of Tobit that “almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin” (Tobit 12:9).
Although the action of the book is placed in Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, around 700 BC, the book was probably composed around 200 BC. The historical background helps the author to convey his theological and moral lessons to his readers. The book begins with a growing suffering from its main protagonists despite being faithful to God. It allows the author to indicate that God sends sufferings not to punish, but to test his faithful ones. Then, he helps them to overcome those sufferings and rewards them with a blessed life.
The book highlights the following deeds of piety and mercy: keeping God’s commandments, participating in the religious life of the Jewish community, almsgiving, burying the dead, rewarding the workers, avoiding lust and marrying according to the Jewish tradition. We also have examples of prayers placed on the lips of the main characters. They express either the pain they are going through, request for protection and blessing, or thanksgiving to the Lord for the transformation that took place in their lives.
The theological and moral lessons are woven within the story of young Tobit, who is on a journey to recover the riches of his family from a distant relative. On that perilous journey, he is accompanied by God’s messenger, Raphael, “one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One” (Tobit 12:15). He did not only succeed in getting the money. He was able to find a beautiful bride, Sarah, whom he rescued from the influence of a demon, and he also healed his father from blindness. What began so tragically ended well because of God’s presence through his angel.
Our responsorial psalm comes from chapter 13 of that book. It is a short fragment of a thanksgiving prayer of an old Tobit who at the beginning of the book, despite his righteous deeds, suffered a lot. Now, he praises God for everything that took place in his life and in the life of his nation. I strongly recommend reading this short novel-like story. Its plot and message can impact our lives.