God Hears Our Prayers

Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17 & Mk. 12:18-27

Today Tobit shows his true mettle. Although he had been blinded by a freak accident and his wife had turned against him, he remained faithful to God. "You are just, O Lord, and just are all Your works. All Your ways are grace and truth." If only we could praise God like that when some misfortune comes our way. After all God is our Father and He would never harm us.

On the same day Sarah, the daughter of Tobit's relative, Raguel, was also in sorry straits. Incredibly, every time she married her husband died almost immediately, and this happened not just once but seven times! Her maid taunted her as Tobit's wife taunted him. Near despair she went to her room with the thought of hanging herself. But thinking the matter over she realised this would be disastrous not only for herself but also for her father. So she poured her heart out in prayer and asked God to let her die. In later readings we shall see how the prayer of both of these people was heard by God as Tobit recovered his sight and Sarah found a husband who survives.

The lesson to be learnt from today's reading is that God does indeed hear the prayers of His faithful people in His own way and in His own time.

In the Gospel the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, must have quoted Raguel who had outlived seven husbands in making a case for their stance. Jesus made short shrift of their silly question and insists on the truth of the resurrection from the dead. He indicates that the question is actually irrelevant, since resurrection means an entirely new life, not a mere resumption of this earthly existence.

Lord Jesus, we believe that if we are faithful to You, You will raise our mortal bodies and make them like Your own in glory. We will share Your kingdom where every tear will be wiped away.