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Continuing Catholic Education. 2011-2012 February 12 2012. Tobit. Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever” (3:2).
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Continuing Catholic Education 2011-2012 February 12 2012
Tobit Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever” (3:2) Place in the Bible: one of the “Deuterocanonical” Books – second canon. Catholic church treats both protocanonical and deuterocanonical books as divinely inspired and canonical. Authorship and Date: Author of Tobit is unknown. Modern scholars considers its composition around 200 B.C. and as early as seventh centuary B.C., Tobit is preserved intact only in Greek septuagint.
Contents • The deportation of Tobit • The Blindness of Tobit • The Suffering of Sarah • The commissioning of Tobias • The Angel Raphael • The Journey to Rages • The Marriage of Sarah and Tobias • The Cure of Tobit’s Blindness • Raphael’s Identity • The Song Of Tobit • Tobit’s Final Counsel and Death
Fiction or Fact? • Cannot decide as fiction, simply by pointing supernatural elements. Jewish and Christian religions based on super-natural and miracle working of God. • Many realistic details – Tobit’s wife’s irritation at her husband’s scrupulous honesty, her anxiety etc… • God’s word: Faith and Trust in God’s providential “tender loving Care”. A model for simple,sincere,and unflagging devotion to the Lord, the mercy of God, and the strength of perseverence in the face of life’s troubles.
God’s providential Care • Tobit exemplifies the manner of life typical of the “just” who depend on Lord to meet all their needs. • He is a pre-cursor of Zechariah and Elizabeth, of Simeon and Anna, and also St.Jospeh. • Tobit instruction to son, Golden Rule “and what you hate, do not do to any one” Jesus in Mt 7:12 ; Tt 4:15
Tobit: Theological Perspective • God is nearer to us than we think, and he is ready to assist us if we remain faithfull to him • Love for God must be shown in virtuous deeds and not just in words • God rewards filial piety • We should think highly of burying the dead properly, remaining chaste before marriage, being faithful to one’s wife or husband, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving • Advanced Angeology
St. Raphael and Tobias We are all angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.
Tobit and Me • Relationship of Tobit and God • Relationship of Tobit and his People • Relationship of Tobit and his wife • Parallels b/w Tobit and Sarah • Relationship of Tobit and son Tobias • Relationship of Tobias and Angel Raphael • Relationship of Tobias and his wife Sarah
Messages from Book of Tobit • Fidelity to Law • Intercessory function of Angels • Piety toward parents • Purity of Marriage • Reverence for the dead • Value of Almsgiving, prayer and fasting • God is faithful to those who are faithful