"Before them all Tobit proclaimed how God had shown mercy to him and opened his eyes." - Tobit 11:17
In today's First Reading, fish gall is used to cure the blindness of Tobiah's father. Later, Jesus cures blindness using mud formed from His own saliva. If we think of these odd procedures as biblical "home remedies," we're missing the point. When sight is lost in scripture, the trouble is rarely just a physical malady. Without dismissing literal blindness, we are also meant to think of disbelief.
To train us in faith, sometimes God asks that we trust Him in spite of ourselves—that we play along despite our preconceptions. If we can always see the benefit of obeying God through purely human reasoning, we don't need faith. These peculiar tests represent an opportunity. God is giving us the chance to say: "Yes Lord, I have come to do Your will, and for no other reason than because I trust You."
Heroic faith like that is a beautiful thing, but it takes courage. When science or reason leaves us scratching our heads, are we willing to give God the benefit of the doubt?
Lord, give us the courage to trust You in those moments when we do not understand.
Reflection by:
Deacon Donald Amodeo
Did you know...
Donald Amodeo is a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Author of the afterlife adventure "Dead & Godless," Don is an avid reader and a fan of apologetics, coffee and cast-iron skillets. His home parish is St. Mary Catholic Church in Tampa.
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