Wednesday, June 3, 2009

June 4, 2009

Thursday June 4, 2009 of the 9th Week of Ordinary Time
Readings: Tobit 6: 10-11; 7: 1bcde; 9-17,; 8: 4-9a Psalm 128: 1-5 Mark 12: 28-34
Response: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord”

After having suffered the death of seven previous men who were betrothed to her according to the Law of Moses, regarding successor rights to marriage, Tobias, asked for Sarah’s hand as the nearest relative to her.
Tobias knew of the demon’s obsession with Sarah and the fate of the seven previous husbands still undertook to become hers. Her parents were upfront with Tobias and made the necessary arrangements.
On the night they were married, Tobias took his bride and before exercising their right to consummate the marriage, they prayed together for God’s guidance, mercy and protection. After which they went to bed and were made one by God without the intervention of the demon!
Our marriage vows are often taken lustfully rather than as a covenant commitment.
The result is often unsatisfactory relationships because God was an after thought rather than the beginning of a successful wedding of thought and prayer.

The prayer of the Psalmist furthers the plea of Tobias and Sarah. They were aware of the perils they would be facing. Not just the history of death rained on the previous marriages but the ordinary everyday pitfalls facing a couple in their beginnings as one.
Pray your marriage will be always the example of love and relationship God intends for all His couples when they contemplate this Holy step in their lives.

The intent of the Scribe’s question to Jesus was to elicit a different response than usual as though Jesus was not aware of God’s intent. When the ancient “schema” came from Jesus’ lips, the scribe was taken aback and forced to agree Jesus was totally in compliance with the law.
We are imbued with the teaching of the Church. The Readings, Liturgies and the Catechetical Homilies relating thereto are meant to keep us in touch with the current understanding of the words and instructions of Jesus. Our faith didn’t drop out of the sky; nor was it left to us on tablets to assure there would be no deviation. Our Church, from time to time, updates its understanding of revelation and suits it to current situations by way of Ecumenical Councils. Just as the Apostles had to deviate from their Jewish practices, not to accommodate converts, but to remove unnecessary restrictions and to introduce meaningful rituals and devotions, so our Church recognizes out-of-date practices may be a stumbling block to souls wanting to be one with Him.

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