Category: Message of the Day

“It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” –Tobit 12:8-9 The archangel Raphael told Tobit and Tobiah that “almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” This seems to be a strange teaching, for we believe that sin is expiated by Jesus’ saving death and that we accept this expiation by our faith in Him. However, Jesus showed He accepted the reception of expiation through almsgiving when He said to the Pharisees: “If you give what you have as alms, all will be wiped clean for...

“David himself addresses Him as ‘Lord.’ ” –Mark 12:37 Demons believe in God (Jas 2:19). In the Gospels, demons address Jesus by various titles: “Son of God” (Mt 8:29; Lk 4:41), “Holy One of God” (Lk 4:34), “Son of God Most High” (Lk 8:28). However, the demons never address Jesus by the title “Lord.” This is because the title “Lord” means ownership, and demons have rebelled against being ruled by God. Scripture says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3), and demons do not live according to the Spirit of God. How...

“Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife: ‘My love, get up. Let us pray.’ ” –Tobit 8:4 Look what happens when a married couple welcomes God into the bedroom. They marry “for a noble purpose” (Tb 8:7), such as convincing the world that Jesus loves the Church by reflecting God’s love in their marriage (Eph 5:25, 32). They pray together, lead holy lives, and pass godly faith to the next generation. You may think that what happens in your bedroom impacts only you and your spouse. On the contrary, your “private” actions impact your children, extended family, and...

“At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.” –Tobit 3:16 God heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah instantly. He also answered their prayers quickly, sending the angel Raphael to work out the glorious answer to their prayers, an answer that far exceeded anything Tobit and Sarah could ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). Yet it took some time for the answer to those prayers to unfold. As the answers to the prayers unfolded, God used the time interval to begin the healing process. The unfolding process was as...

“Why are you trying to trip Me up?” –Mark 12:15 Tobit and Anna, in the first reading, get into a terrible fight, the worst of their marriage. The physically blind Tobit is also blind to the kindness and support of his wife. Tobit is stung, as a husband and a man, by his inability to support his family, and takes it out on his wife. The blind Tobit believes the worst of his wife, while she had been working hard to support the family. Anna, understandably, is stung by her husband’s wrongful accusation that she is a thief. Yet she...