9th Week in Ordinary Time
08th June 2023 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Tobit 6:10-12; 7:1acd, 9-12, 15-16a; 8:1, 4-9a
In those days: When he entered Media and was already drawing near to Ecbatana, Raphael said to the youth, “Brother Tobias?” And he said to him, “Here I am.” And Raphael said to him, “We must lodge tonight with the family of Raguel. The man is a relative of yours, and he has a daughter named Sarah. He has no male child nor daughter, but only Sarah, and you are nearest kin to her, more entitled than all other men to inherit her, and it is right for you to inherit all that belongs to her father. The girl is sensible, courageous, and very beautiful, and her father is honourable.” When they entered Ecbatana, they found Raquel seated beside the door of the courtyard. They greeted him first, and he said to them, “Many greetings, brothers; welcome, and good health to you.” And he led them into his house. Then he killed a ram from the flock and welcomed them earnestly. When they had bathed and washed themselves and reclined at table to eat, Tobias said to Raphael, “Brother Azarias, speak to Raguel, that he might give Sarah my sister to me.” Raguel heard this and to the youth, “Eat, drink, and be merry this night, for there is no person for whom it is proper to take Sarah my daughter besides you, brother. Likewise I myself do not have authority to give her to another man besides you, for you are nearest kin to me. But I will nevertheless explain the truth to you, child. I gave her to seven husbands from among our brothers, and they all died the night on which they were going in to be with her. But now, child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act among you.” And Tobias said, “I will surely eat nothing here nor will I drink until you settle the matters that concern me.” So Raguel said to him, “I hereby do it, and she is given to you according to the judgment of the book of Moses. It has been decided from heaven that she be given to you. Receive your sister. From now on you are her brother and she your sister. She is given to you from today and for ever, and may the Lord of heaven lead you both on a good path this night, child, and may he bring mercy and peace upon you both.” Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias and said, “Receive your wife, given to you according to the law and according to the judgment written in the book of Moses. Take her and go to our father safe and sound. And may the God of heaven prosper your way in peace.” And Raguel called Edna his wife and said to her, “Sister, prepare the other room and lead Sarah there.” So she proceeded to furnish the room as he said to her and led her there. When they had finished eating and drinking, they wanted to go to sleep, so they escorted the youth and led him to the other room. And they came and shut the door of the private room. Tobias arose from the bed and said to Sarah, “Sister, get up. Let us pray and plead with our Lord that he might bring us mercy and deliverance.” So she arose and they began to pray and plead that deliverance might come to them, and he began to say: “Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, and blessed is your name through all the ages and generations. Let the heavens and every creature bless you through the ages. You made Adam, and you made his wife Eve for him as a helper and support. From them both the offspring of mankind came into being. You said, ‘It is not good for a man to be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’ And now, it is not because of lust that I am taking this sister of mine, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” And they both went to sleep for the night.
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R. See 1a)
R/. Blessed are all who fear the Lord.
Gospel : Mark 12:28b-34
At that time: One of the scribes came up and asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other beside him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: All in the optic of love
Indicative: Following the commandments is not just a legal matter. It is a matter of an entire life. It is a way of living and a mode of being{alertSuccess}
1. Often laws and rules are not looked at positively. Many regard them as restraints and constraints of their freedom. They follow them not willingly but grudgingly. Often a spirit of force, coercion and fear accompanies the observance of laws.
2. It is in this context, Jesus recasts the laws in a new perspective. He reaffirms love as the greatest commandment. It is a matter of relating and living. It is twofold: loving God and loving others.
3. Loving God is an emotion, a passion, a relation, a devotion and a dedication. It is a love that is marked by depth, intimacy, totality and fidelity. It comprises the whole person and whole life. Loving God is not just following His commandments but experiencing, expressing and enhancing a personal intimate relationship and commitment with God.
4. Loving others is not a substitution for loving God, as some mistake and make it so. It is an extension and authentication of love for God. One cannot love others without loving God. And one cannot love God without showing it in love for others.
5. Loving others is also not only a matter of doing some acts of charity out of pity and compassion. It is an integral part of our very self. In other words, loving others as ourselves is a matter of authentic identity.
6. Interestingly, the first reading also makes a blend of loving God and loving others in the one spectrum of married life. The words of Raguel and later the prayer of Tobiah and his wife Sarah present to us marriage as a covenant of this twofold love.
Imperative: We must recharge our energies once again with the power of love. Love God and others with entire self and full measures{alertSuccess}