Readings: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20; Resp: Tobit 13; Mark 12:38-44
Today, we complete the reading of our story of Tobit. Raphael, who hitherto had been called brother Azarias, revealed his true identity. He was an Archangel sent by God to help the family of Tobit.
He gave Tobit and Tobias some powerful life’s lessons that we will reflect on today:
I. Do not be tired of giving thanks to God and do so worthily.
II. Prayer with fasting and alms with right conduct are better than riches with iniquity.
III. It is better to practice almsgiving than to hoard up gold. Almsgiving saves us from death and purges every kind of sin. Those who give alms have their fill of days; those who commit sin and do evil, bring harm on themselves.
What more homily do we need?
Let us remember that this advice came from an Archangel, who serves in the presence of the Lord.
Sometimes it looks like our good works are unnoticed. Sometimes people take advantage of our kindness, and sometimes people reward our goodness with ingratitude and wickedness and the tempter suggests to us that it is not worth it.
The story of Tobit is an encouragement to someone who is almost getting tired and discouraged in showing and sowing kindness. The Angel Raphael told Tobit that God saw all his hidden kindness and so the blessings he had received were the rewards for his kindness.
Even the Gospel of today is a testimony that even though people may not see the seeds we are sowing, no single act of goodness escapes divine notice and none shall go unrewarded.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on June 10, 2023.