Tobit 11:5-17 / Mark 12:35-37
The world may seem rather dark with so much of bad news.
And the bad news doesn’t seem to taper off; in fact it is like more and more bad news every day.
So it may seem that the world is getting darker and darker.
And yet there are good news, though these good news are like little sparks in the darkness.
But these sparks of good news are enough to sparkle in the darkness to give hope to humanity.
In the 1st reading, Tobit and his wife Anna, as well as Tobias and his wife Sarah, had gone through a period of agonizing darkness.
But the little sparkles began to appear – Tobias got married to Sarah and their marriage was blessed by God; Tobias also recovered the silver for his father; Anna rejoiced at Tobias’ safe return; and Tobit regained his sight.
That was enough for them to see the glorious light of God’s wonderful blessings.
Tobit summed it all up as he said: Blessed be God! Blessed be his great name! Blessed be all his holy angels! Blessed be his great name forever more!.
We too may be scourged with bad news and darkness.
But it is a holy darkness, because that will prepare us to see the sparks of God’s blessings.
And then we will rejoice, and like Tobit, we will truly bless God for His wonderful love for us.