Daily Readings - Thu Jun 08 2023
Tobit
20Bless God at all times. And petition him that he direct your ways and that all your counsels may remain in him
4But go out now, and inquire after some faithful man, who would go with you to keep you safe in return for his wages, so that you may receive it while I am still alive.
1And so they went to Raguel, and Raguel received them with gladness9And so, after they had spoken, Raguel instructed a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he exhorted them to recline for dinner10Tobias said, "Here, today, I will not eat or drink, unless you first confirm my petition, and promise to give Sarah your daughter to me.11When Raguel heard this word, he became afraid, knowing what had befallen those seven men, who had approached her. And he began to fear, lest it might happen to him also in the same way. And, since he wavered and gave no further response to the petition12the Angel said to him: "Do not be afraid to give her to this one, because this one fears God. He is obliged to be joined to your daughter. Because of this, no other one could have her.13Then Raguel said: "I do not doubt that God has admitted my prayers and tears before his sight14And I believe, therefore, that he has caused you to come to me, so that this one might be joined in marriage to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses. And now, do not continue to doubt that I will give her to you.15And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying, "May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you. And may he join you together in marriage and fulfill his blessing in you.16And taking paper, they made a written record of the marriage
1In truth, after they had dined, they introduced the young man to her4Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and he said to her: "Sarah, get up and let us pray to God this day, and tomorrow, and the following day. For, during these three nights, we are being joined to God. And then, when the third night has passed, we ourselves will be joined together5For certainly, we are the children of the saints, and we must not be joined together in such a manner as the heathens, who are ignorant of God.6And so, rising up together, they both prayed earnestly, at the same time, that health might be given to them7And Tobias said: "Lord, the God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth bless you, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all your creatures that are in them8You formed Adam from the mud of the earth, and you gave Eve to him as a helper9And now, O Lord, you know that I take my sister in conjugal union, not by reason of worldly pleasure, but solely for the love of posterity, in which your name may be blessed forever and ever.
Mark
28And one of the scribes, who had heard them arguing, drew near to him. And seeing that he had answered them well, he questioned him as to which was the first commandment of all29And Jesus answered him: "For the first commandment of all is this: ‘Listen, O Israel. The Lord your God is one God30And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength. This is the first commandment.31But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said to him: Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth that there is one God, and there is no other beside him33and that he should be loved from the whole heart, and from the whole understanding, and from the whole soul, and from the whole strength. And to love one’s neighbor as one’s self is greater than all holocausts and sacrifices.34And Jesus, seeing that he had responded wisely, said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to question him
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of love and fidelity, both in our relationship with God and in our relationships with one another. In the first reading from the Book of Tobit, we witness the story of Tobias and Sarah, a young couple whose union is blessed by God. The narrative emphasizes the importance of prayer, trust in God’s providence, and the sacredness of marriage. Tobias and Sarah’s commitment to one another is not merely a human arrangement but a divine vocation, sealed in faith and strengthened by their prayers together. This passage reminds us that our relationships are not just earthly endeavors but are deeply connected to our spiritual lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the two greatest commandments: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These commandments are not separate but intertwined, for we cannot truly love God without loving those around us. The scribe in the Gospel recognizes the truth of Jesus’ words, acknowledging that love for God and neighbor surpasses even the sacrifices of the Temple. This exchange highlights the simplicity and profundity of God’s will for us: to live in love.
These readings call us to examine how we live out the commandments of love in our daily lives. Like Tobias and Sarah, we are invited to trust in God’s plan and to seek His blessing in all our relationships. Like the scribe, we are reminded that love is the heart of the law. Let us ask ourselves: Do we prioritize love in our interactions with others? Do we seek to serve and care for those around us? May we, like Tobias and Sarah, pray together and build our lives on the foundation of faith and love. And may we, like the scribe, draw closer to the kingdom of God by living out the truth of these commandments.