June 03, 2021

St. Charles Lwanga and Companions

Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a

And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we lodge? And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other daughter beside her. And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy. And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared.

And when he desired them to sit down to dinner, Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter. Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition, The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.

Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight. And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.

And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfill his blessing in you.

And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God. And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her prepare another chamber.

And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept. And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God today, and tomorrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.

For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them, And Tobias said: Lord God of our father, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.

Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.

Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Inviting God in to all the moments of our lives

While every feminist bone in my body raises up by the words of Sarah being “given” to Tobias as if she were a cow, there are many portions of this Old Testament reading which touch my heart in beautiful ways. There is the respect shown to parents Raguel and Edna as Tobias asks for Sarah’s hand in marriage, the respect shown their cultural traditions, and the ultimate respect on their wedding night that Tobias shows for Sarah and for our Lord.  Their “amen” proclamation demonstrates that they are on the same page, and bodes well for a long and loving relationship.   

We are also reminded that what we are called to do, the bottom line – is to weave God and our spirituality into all aspects of our lives, especially in those big moments.  While the secular traditions of a marriage (or daily life) can sometimes take over, inviting God in through a well-placed moment of prayer shines bright!

—Kristine Mackey is the Vice President Advancement and Communications & Provincial Assistant for the Midwest Jesuits.

Prayer

Father in heaven,
you have given us a mind to know you,
a will to serve you,
and a heart to love you.
Be with us today in all that we do,
so that your light may shine out in our lives.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

—St. Thomas More