In today's first reading, Tobit 6, Raphael and Tobiah, upon Raphael's suggestion, visit Raguel, a relative of Tobiah's. They are well received and Tobiah asked to be permitted to marry Sarah, Raguel's daughter. Sarah has already been given to marriage to seven other men and each, on the night of their marriage, before consummating the marriage, each of the men have died. Tobias is made aware of this but still wants to marry Sarah. Raguel says to him: "She is yours according to the decree of the book of Moses. Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved." That night the couple pray together and then "went to bed for the night." The following morning both are very much alive and continue their life together as man and wife. In their prayer, before retiring, both begged to be delivered from what must have seemed like a curse. Tobias prayed, saying to the Lord: "Now, Lord, you know that I make this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Send down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age."
The power of prayer!
The power of love!
The power of humility!
The importance of putting God, including God, in all of our decisions!
Tobiah and Sarah knew all of these important qualities: putting God first and including God, the power of love, the importance of humility, and the essential element of praying together with one another as a married couple. Doing so is not something to be ashamed of! Members of a religious community pray together several times each day. Do you in your marriage pray together? Do you, as a single person, have a prayer partner?
No comments:
Post a Comment