Tobit buries a dead man, giving him a
proper burial, even though the consequences may be dire for him. However, rather than receiving blessings for
such an act, he endures great suffering through a freak accident, as droppings
from bird fall on his eyes while he is asleep in his courtyard. When Tobit accuses his wife for falsely
acquiring a goat for the work she had done, her wife cuts to the heart of what
she and his friends believe: What have your good deeds gotten you, Tobit? How are you being rewarded for the good that
you do?
We do want to be rewarded or at least recognized for our charitable
works and good deeds. However, when we
live a life of faith, we can also undertake many risks and dangers as well. And sometimes with those risks comes
suffering and hardship.
Living a life of faith is not an
assurance of blessings and comfort in our lives. I think of all the great missionaries in our
Church who went to faraway lands knowing that danger and risks awaited them –
missionaries such as Jean de Brebeuf ministering to the native people of
Canada, Father Damien serving the lepers in Hawaii, and Peter Claver
ministering to the slaves in Columbia. Many of these missionaries suffered greatly while serving God. However, the faith of these missionaries was
so great that they made such sacrifices with joyful hearts. May we not be afraid to takes risks for our
faith. May we follow the Lord wherever
he calls us with a joyful heart.
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