Oh my! If there are struggles in your family, and who doesn’t experience family struggles, then this week’s readings are spiritual medicine indeed! Heaven reveals the blueprint for healthy and happy families through scripture; however, the Book of Tobit is exceptionally rich. Thank God for Archangel Raphael, the healing angel, and the healing hand he offers the world.
Today’s first reading approaches the zenith of the story of Tobit with existential joy and celebrations. (Spoiler alert: the zenith comes tomorrow when we witness Raphael’s call to proclaim the goodness of God! Make sure you read tomorrow’s readings as well!) There is healing, restoration, joyful reunion, and family love all in today’s readings. I especially loved Tobit 11:16-17. Being a daughter-in-law myself I could imagine no greater greeting than the one Tobit gave Sarah. This is quite a scene indeed. The love must have been palpable.
Then Tobit, rejoicing and praising God, went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh… When Tobit met Sarah the wife of his son Tobias, he blessed her saying, “Come in, my daughter, and welcome. Blessed be your God who has brought you to us, my daughter. Blessed be your father and your mother, blessed be my son Tobias, and blessed be you, my daughter. Come in now to your home, and welcome, with blessing and joy. Come in, my daughter.” … – Tobit 11:16-17
Yet, sadly, this type of love and welcome eludes all too many of our families today. Too many sons (and daughters) are not welcomed home with arms wrapped around them like Tobias was by his mother. All too often adult children do not return home with love and honor for their parents. And countless daughter-in-laws (and son-in-laws) are not welcomed into the family with love and blessings reflective of the greeting Tobit gave Sarah.
The Secret Sauce
So what’s up with that? Why can’t all families be like Tobit’s family, freely expressing family love and comfort? After all, we all desire love and God created the family and marriage so that family love could flourish. Why do so many families miss the mark? How is God’s infinite healing love blunted and blocked in families and how do we make a change? The key to full restoration is found in the foundation revealed in the Book of Tobit.
You see, Tobit and Sarah prayed in earnest to God through their pain. They surrendered all to God in supplication. Today’s first reading reveals the beautiful manifestation of their prayers and trust in God. When they prayed heaven heard them. As a matter of fact, the Archangel Raphael himself heard them and God commissioned the angel to enter in and heal this family. Their prayers were strong. Such strong and mature prayers are the result of years of practice and times spent with God.
At that very moment, the prayers of both of them were heard in the glorious presence of God. So Raphael was sent to heal both of them: Tobit, by removing the white films from his eyes, so that he might see God’s light with his eyes; and Sarah, daughter of Raguel, by giving her in marriage to Tobias son of Tobit, and by setting her free from the wicked demon Asmodeus… – Tobit 3:16-17
Prayer set the solid foundation that Tobit’s family stood firm upon. Prayer was also found at the foundation of the marriage of Sarah and Tobias.
Everything can be turned around for God’s glory when we pray with a pure heart orientated towards God. No matter the challenges and difficulties our families face, God can and will heal our pain. Looking at the pain in Tobit’s family we have reason for hope! Tobit’s blindness, Sarah’s deceased husbands (all seven), deep despondency and fear were all transformed into family joy.
How Does He Do That?
God gave us his son through the family of King David. However, there is a divine twist here. Jesus is more than a human being in the lineage of David – he is also David’s lord. This is the game changer, and this game changer is what makes families so special. God chose to bring his Son into the world through a family. Yes, God’s love entered into the world through a family and it is in the family where we can find the love our hearts seek and desire.
It’s no wonder that the family is under attack today. It appears that a full frontal attack has been launched on the family by evil forces. As a result of this attack immense pain and suffering is experienced in the world. I’m sure Tobit and Sarah felt despair reflective of the despair experienced by us today. And this is precisely why we can turn to the Book of Tobit, and Archangel Raphael, for healing guidance today. In the end, healing happened for this family – healing that began with prayer.
Our Family Today
I don’t know about you; however, my family was not founded in prayer. My parents’ marriage was not founded in prayer, the marriage of my in-laws was not founded in prayer, and as a result my husband and I didn’t found our marriage in prayer. Sin and headache have certainly followed. My parents divorced after fourteen years of marriage and my in-laws have had their struggles as well. My husband and I, along with our children and grandchildren, have also suffered as a result of a lack of placing prayer at the foundation of our marriage. Yes, our lack of prayer had left us vulnerable to sin that leads to heartache and pain.
Maybe you can relate? If so, then there is great cause for hope! Tobit and Sarah trusted in God, and this was before Jesus entered into the world. Just look what heaven did for them! How much greater will the Triune God do for us now when we turn to Him. Remember, the One who dwells within you, Jesus Christ, is greater than the one who dwells in the world. Let’s all turn to the Triune God in deep prayer where we allow a space for his love to enter in and heal our families as only God can. We will make a huge difference for the generations that follow us when we do. God brought his only begotten Son into the world through a family and it is through this love that our families can and will be healed.
Together we are called to greet our children with arms flung open, we are called to lovingly care for our parents, and we are called to welcome our in-law children with immense warmth and blessings. We can only express such love with the help of our Triune God, the God who is love himself, and prayer is a most beautiful form of communication between us and Him.
A Special Message to My Biological Brothers
Happy birthday to my younger brother Robert (Bob) Bullard today! And Happy Birthday to my youngest brother Richard (Rich) Bullard next week! And, I thank them for the birthday wishes they gave me on Wednesday! Yes, we all share June birthdays within a 10 days of each other. Pass the birthday cake and let’s celebrate our family!
May your family be blessed my friends in Christ. – Carolyn
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.
Father God – consume us.
Holy Spirit – enter in to us.
Mother Mary – pray for us.
Archangel Raphael – pray for us.
Fasting of the Mind
I invite you to visit my webpage on meditation and contemplation called Fasting of the Mind. In it you will find several pathways I regularly use to allow my heart to open more fully to Jesus Christ. I would love to meet you there. Here is the link: Fasting of the Mind.
