Today’s first reading approaches the pinnacle of the story of Tobit with existential joy and festivities. There is healing, renewal, joyful reunion, and family love in today’s readings. There is no greater welcome than the one Tobit gave Sarah. Sadly, this type of love and welcome escape all too many of our families today. Too many sons and daughters are not welcomed home with arms wrapped around them like Tobias was by his mother. Tobit and Sarah prayed in earnest to God through their pain. They surrendered their lives to God in prayer. Today’s first reading reveals the beautiful expression of their prayers and trust in God. When they prayed, heaven heard them. In fact, the Archangel Raphael himself heard them and God appointed the angel to enter in and heal this family. Their prayers were strong. Such strong and mature prayers are the result of years of exercise and times spent with God.

According to the Psalmist, offering praise to God is a normal and natural part of a believer’s daily life. Praise is a noticeable characteristic of the believer’s life from start to end. Praising God sho rely on the circumstances of our lives, which, as we well know, can change at the drop of a hat. Praising God is reliant on our ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father, a relationship that, for most of us, began on the day of our baptism. That blessed connection continues throughout this life, and complements us to heaven someday. In today’s Gospel proclamation, our Lord Jesus points out to the scribes that they have a poor view of the Messiah. They correctly understood that the Messiah was going to be an offspring of David. Jesus’ kingdom has come but not yet fully.” It is a present spiritual reality and yet it is a physical reality that is yet to come. Sin and death have not yet been fully captured .This means that the Christian life is full of both joy and sorrow because we are in a spiritual battle but victory is guaranteed. Where has this spiritual battle been obvious in your life lately? How can the hope of Christ help you fight this battle?