The authors of the Bible were not afraid, and indeed, even delighted in telling stories that were clearly folklore.
They combined all kinds of outlandish details, but all worked together in creating a fascinating story that revealed many wonderful truths of the religious valor of God’s people.
The book of Tobit is no exception.
The Jews were revolted to leave the dead unburied.
Tobit, good man that he was, made it his responsibility before God to live honorably, and at night, against the orders of King Sennacherib, buried the dead even though it brough mockery from his own neighbors.
This, of course, infuriated the king, but Tobit’s allegiance was to a greater king “who ruled heaven and earth.”
The story goes wild and crazy when, after a night in which he buried the dead, he fell asleep near a wall and forgot to cover his eyes — and to his total dismay, sparrows pooped in his eyes causing cataract-like film to blind him.
At this point you just need to stop reading this, and read the story.
It truly delights! And more of it will be told over the days to come, but reading the story in its entirety is clearly fun and it does bring some wonderful insights.
+ Meanwhile, Jesus tells one of his stories in parable form while speaking to the chief priests, scribes, and elders.
He makes them out to be the villains, that they were securing their anger and desire to arrest Jesus. But fear of the people’s admiration for Jesus prevented them from doing so — at least for now.
The combination of these two stories reveal the faith of Tobit and the complete trust of Jesus in the Father.
Nothing will prevent either Tobit or Jesus from saying and doing what they must say and do.
Men of faith. Men of integrity. Men who don’t just say, but also do that in which they believe.
Stories, by their very nature, are meant to involve us and hook into our faith and love. They are meant to engage us so that our faith and trust can grow and become.
Psalm 112 speaks beautifully about those who “fear the Lord” (better translated as those who have awe in the presence of the Lord; and that is not awful, awe–full).
And in one line of the psalm, the psalmist beautifully proclaims: “Light shines through the darkness for the upright.”
+ That light shone brilliantly for Tobit and for Jesus — and the profound hope is that it will shine as brilliantly for all!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
