One of my favorite readings in the Bible is the Book of Tobit. It tells the story of Tobit and his son Tobias and how God provided for them during a difficult time in their lives by sending Raphael the Archangel to help them.
Raphael does not disclose his identity to them until everything is resolved for good.
Then Raphael called the two of them privately and said to them, “Bless God and acknowledge him in the presence of all the living for the good things he has done for you. Bless and sing praise to his name.
With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds of God. Do not be slow to acknowledge him. It is good to conceal the secret of a king, but to acknowledge and reveal the works of God, and with fitting honor to acknowledge him.
Do good and evil will not overtake you. Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin.
Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies. “
I will now declare the whole truth to you and will conceal nothing from you. Already I have declared it to you when I said, ‘It is good to conceal the secret of a king, but to reveal with due honor the works of God.’ So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and read the record of your prayer before the glory of the Lord, and likewise whenever you would bury the dead. And that time when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the dead, I was sent to you to test you. And at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law.
I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.”
Tobit 12:6-15
With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds of God. Do not be slow to acknowledge him. It is good to conceal the secret of a king, but to acknowledge and reveal the works of God, and with fitting honor to acknowledge him.
Do good and evil will not overtake you. Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin.
Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies. “
I will now declare the whole truth to you and will conceal nothing from you. Already I have declared it to you when I said, ‘It is good to conceal the secret of a king, but to reveal with due honor the works of God.’ So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and read the record of your prayer before the glory of the Lord, and likewise whenever you would bury the dead. And that time when you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the dead, I was sent to you to test you. And at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law.
I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.”
Tobit 12:6-15
I had the pleasure to meet a Jew recently. She greeted me by saying "Shalom".
Then she asked me if I knew what it means.
It means peace - I said.
It is more than peace - she said - it is peace, integrity, prosperity.
I smiled. I realized in that moment what a wonderful thing to wish to somebody this is.
This Gospel verse came to my mind:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
(John 14:27)
When I met her, I was worried about something and I could not take my mind off it. Her 'shalom' brought me back to a sense of peace. It was more, it was an indescribable sensation of well being that is still lasting. She made my day and my week. I will think of her and her 'shalom' when things are difficult.
The two of them were shaken; they fell face down, for they were afraid. But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; peace be with you. Bless God forevermore.
As for me, when I was with you, I was not acting on my own will, but by the will of God. Bless him each and every day; sing his praises.
Although you were watching me, I really did not eat or drink anything—but what you saw was a vision. So now get up from the ground, and acknowledge God. See, I am ascending to him who sent me. Write down all these things that have happened to you.” And he ascended.
Then they stood up, and could see him no more. They kept blessing God and singing his praises, and they acknowledged God for these marvelous deeds of his, when an angel of God had appeared to them.
Tobit 12:16-22
As for me, when I was with you, I was not acting on my own will, but by the will of God. Bless him each and every day; sing his praises.
Although you were watching me, I really did not eat or drink anything—but what you saw was a vision. So now get up from the ground, and acknowledge God. See, I am ascending to him who sent me. Write down all these things that have happened to you.” And he ascended.
Then they stood up, and could see him no more. They kept blessing God and singing his praises, and they acknowledged God for these marvelous deeds of his, when an angel of God had appeared to them.
Tobit 12:16-22
I thank God for putting this angel on my way. And I wish peace, integrity and prosperity to all of you.
Shalom!
No comments:
Post a Comment