Daily Retreat 06/06/07
2007 Jun 6 Wed/Norbert, bp, rf
Tb 3:1-11a. 16-17a/Ps 24(25):2-3. 4-5ab. 6 and 7bc. 8-9/Mk 12:18-27
From today's readings: "At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God, so Raphael was sent to heal them both.... To You, O Lord, I lift my soul.... Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?"
Can't take it anymore!
Because of their misfortunes, both Tobit and Sarah find the people closest to them assuming the worst about them, and so, the substantial burden of their own troubles is made even more unbearable by the stinging words of those around them. It reaches the point where both Tobit and Sarah start thinking they would be better off dead! But they both do the right thing, turning to God in their hour of need, and He hears their prayers. Note that, while not giving them the answer they seek (death as release from their miseries), God gives them a much better answer than Tobit or Sarah had even dared to ask for in prayer!
There are at least two lessons for you and me here. First, we need to be on guard against the unfortunate tendency to look on "down and out" people as just simply getting what they deserve, for whatever reason. Even people with a strong faith commitment can slip into this attitude, at least in some ways. Tragically enough, this often happens with relatives - after helping out a cousin or even a sibling in trouble two or three times, many people (perhaps even you and I?) start sneering at or distancing themselves from the "bad news" relative, even when it turns out that the relative is objectively not the source of the problem.
Also, we ought to carefully consider our own attitude towards problems and travail in our own life. It's certainly very human to think "I don't deserve this, and I can't take it anymore!" When faced with the weight of such great burdens, it's particularly important for us to turn to God and pour out our heart in prayer; and while it's o.k. to suggest to God whatever solution might come to our mind, it's essential to allow room for the possibility that God's solution will be a much better answer than we even dare to ask for in prayer!
Tb 3:1-11a. 16-17a/Ps 24(25):2-3. 4-5ab. 6 and 7bc. 8-9/Mk 12:18-27
From today's readings: "At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God, so Raphael was sent to heal them both.... To You, O Lord, I lift my soul.... Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?"
Can't take it anymore!
Because of their misfortunes, both Tobit and Sarah find the people closest to them assuming the worst about them, and so, the substantial burden of their own troubles is made even more unbearable by the stinging words of those around them. It reaches the point where both Tobit and Sarah start thinking they would be better off dead! But they both do the right thing, turning to God in their hour of need, and He hears their prayers. Note that, while not giving them the answer they seek (death as release from their miseries), God gives them a much better answer than Tobit or Sarah had even dared to ask for in prayer!
There are at least two lessons for you and me here. First, we need to be on guard against the unfortunate tendency to look on "down and out" people as just simply getting what they deserve, for whatever reason. Even people with a strong faith commitment can slip into this attitude, at least in some ways. Tragically enough, this often happens with relatives - after helping out a cousin or even a sibling in trouble two or three times, many people (perhaps even you and I?) start sneering at or distancing themselves from the "bad news" relative, even when it turns out that the relative is objectively not the source of the problem.
Also, we ought to carefully consider our own attitude towards problems and travail in our own life. It's certainly very human to think "I don't deserve this, and I can't take it anymore!" When faced with the weight of such great burdens, it's particularly important for us to turn to God and pour out our heart in prayer; and while it's o.k. to suggest to God whatever solution might come to our mind, it's essential to allow room for the possibility that God's solution will be a much better answer than we even dare to ask for in prayer!
posted by FrPitstick | 6/05/2007
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