religious piety, what it brings - 9th week tuesday

We reflect now on the book of Tobit.  You cannot find this book in a protestant bible because they consider this an apocrypha and therefore not part of the bible.  But we catholics have recognized since the 4^th century that Tobit is part of the bible, it is inspired, it is God’s word that teaches us.  This is the reason why we read it today in the mass.

The book of Tobit is not a historical book though it has some historical content.  Its main purpose is to instruct us how to live godly lives through the examples of the characters in the story.

Tobit was a good man.  He was pious, a prayerful person and he observed the law.  In our reading today Tobit was blinded when bird droppings fells into his eyes.  He has just buried a dead person who was murdered in the streets.  Indi niya kilala kon sin-o to ang napatay, indi man to pariente and yet because of his religiosity he felt it his duty to bury the dead, to accord it a proper burial.  Then a day later, after that charitable act which many even criticized, he was blinded.  Because of this disability Tobit can no longer work and in order to make both ends meet his wife had to work.  Yet despite these misfortunes he remained zealous in his love and service to God.  One day his wife brought home a goat.  Thinking that she stole it he told her to give it back to the owner.  Tobit became very angry, harbouring all the while his suspicion that his wife stole the goat.  And this is where our reading ends, when the wife retorted, “Where are your charitable deeds now?  Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”

I would like to reflect with you two things.

First, our service to the Lord, our piety and religious practices do not always mean that we will be preserved from the misfortunes of life.  Tobit had his share of misfortunes despite his meticulous observance of every detail of God’s law.  When we do good deeds we do not do it for reward.  Do it because it is good, do it because it is God’s will, do it because it is pleasing to God.  Never mind if we could not be compensated immediately, never mind if we are not rewarded or recognized immediately or in our lifetime, never mind even if bad things happen to us in return.  Be happy rather with the thought that the good that we do is done because we love God and our fellow men and women, we care and we are happy serving others. If we expect rewards for the good that we do, we will never grow in our love.  Our love will always look for compensation, we will always and only work for merit, and we can never learn to love like Jesus, to love unconditionally.

Second.  let us also be aware that many times our religious fervor can bring out in us bad attitudes.  Let me repeat that.  Many times our religious fervor, our religious piety can make us less loving, it can make us less compassionate, it can make us harsh, judgmental, and divisive even.  Sometimes our religious fervor can make us hate others.  This also happened to Tobit – his religious fervor made him suspicious and less trusting to his wife, and in turn his wife’s attitude also turned ugly.  Just be aware that our piety and desire to serve God can bring out our ugly and not so pleasant side, our bad attitudes.

Our love for God must make us more compassionate, more merciful, more loving.

Let us think about these two things.