“Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself.” Doubtless, that is NOT what you would want a friend, spouse, child, or boss to say to you. Especially after something has just come out of your mouth that is uncharacteristic.
Yet those were the words Tobit’s wife, Anna, said to him in today’s first reading. Anna had earned a goat as a bonus from her hard work, but Tobit would not believe she had brought home the goat honestly. He accused her of receiving stolen goods. Furious and hurt, Anna fired back sharp words to Tobit. They, too, must have hurt deeply. Tobit had been a kind, generous, loyal servant of Yahweh his entire life–even when he was deported to Ninevah after the collapse of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. Even when he lost his position in Assyria and was hunted for his loyalty to his fellow Israelites. Even when bird droppings fell on his eyes and caused blindness.
Tobit’s kindness and generosity lasted until Anna brought home a goat! After all the negative events, it was easier to believe that Anna had brought home a stolen goat than that good fortune had come their way.
Tobit had a momentary failure of prudence.
Prudence is a virtue that enables a person to use reason to judge things rightly. It puts things in perspective so that a course of action may be chosen that is good and leads to goodness for both self and others. Prudence seeks to judge by truth and logic–with an eye for both immediate and long term consequences. It does not judge quickly nor tarry too long. It seeks and finds a right path.
Chapter One of the book of Tobit (not included in the readings this week) names many times when Tobit had acted with prudence. Yesterday’s reading showed him using prudence to both share his good fortune and perform a work of mercy for one who had been murdered. Today Tobit did not think of his wife’s hard work, character, or the likelihood that she is telling him the truth.
Instead, he let loose with emotion born of misfortune. He failed at prudence.
God, through the stinging retort from Anna, corrected Tobit.
Tomorrow we will see how Tobit profited from his wife’s naming this uncharacteristic truth.
Today, we simply see him confronted by someone who knows and loves him. We see his wife help him by naming his failure.
Today, we also hear in the Gospel how some Pharisees and Herodians “were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in speech.” They thought they had found a question he could not answer: “Do you pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” The Pharisees took one position; the Herodians the other. It looked like an innocent dispute. It was not. It was a trap. If Jesus answered “yes,” he would take a position contrary to a majority of the Jewish people and the teaching of the prophets. If he answered “no” he would put himself against the Roman authorities.
Jesus needed prudence. He needed to find an answer other than the obvious “yes” or “no.” He found such an answer through wisdom. Wisdom is supernatural level prudence. It is the ability to see what is good from God’s point of view. It takes human reasoning to a higher level, the level of the Holy Spirit. “Show me a coin,” he says. “Whose image is on the coin?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. “Then repay to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Jesus took the question from the surface where it was “either-or” to a deeper question for which all would have to face the need for a better question and answer: “What is the difference between what is of value to God and what is not?”
As we will see from readings later this week, it was very important for Tobit to regain his prudent perspective, one that saw things from God’s perspective. It was important that he had taught prudent, faithful ways to his son, Tobiah. Much rested on his shoulders. He needed both prudence and wisdom.
As we know from our faith, it was very important for Jesus to be in conformity with the Father’s wisdom: to NEVER give in in any way to the either-or, survival-of-the-fittest thinking of the Pharisees and Herodians. The Father’s perspective was the cross: it was conquering evil with remaining true to goodness, to faithfulness to the Father, even when such faithfulness seemed to end with death as a criminal. Jesus mission depended on prudence and wisdom. Our salvation rested on Jesus’ shoulders.
Now comes the hard part: how do these readings confront me, as Anna did Tobit? I can think of times recently when I have used prudence and when God has given me wisdom. Oh. But then, reflecting, God uses my thoughts as He used Anna: I think of kindness shown to a stray cat combined with failures to pay attention that has caused substantial damage to my house; I think of a time recently when not knowing how to fill out a government form has created a long, involved paper trail to make things right; I think of how eating what is convenient has added inches to my middle.
I am not always prudent. While I ask often for all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom is one of them), I also often ignore or dismiss thoughts which are likely prudence and wisdom guiding me.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for using your Word to help me see how much more I need to practice prudence and seek your wisdom. Help me do better with them today. When I am tested by my problems of the day, help me think clearly and with self-discipline. Teach me to think well. Then bless my prudence with your wisdom. Let the Holy Spirit teach me to see what you see and to value what you value.
