Day 1 (Monday)
Tobit 2:1 – 3:17 (Tobit Becomes Blind, Tobit & Sarah Pray to God)
Last time we read the first chapter of Tobit, and saw how he was taken into captivity when Israel was given over to the Assyrians, and how he remained faithful throughout every circumstance in his life, even when doing so brought consequences. He had to flee when the Assyrian king was trying to kill him for burying other Jews that had been killed and left lying in the streets or refuse heaps, and then was able to return when a new king took the throne. This is where our story picks up today.
The Charitable Tobit Becomes Blind
1 When I arrived at my house, my wife Anna and my son Tobias were given back to me. It was the Feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks. A good dinner was prepared for me, so I sat down at the table to eat. 2 When I saw the abundance of meat, I said to my son, “Go and bring whomever you may find of our needy brethren who are mindful of the Lord. Behold, I will wait for you.” 3 But he came back and said, “O father, one of our people was strangled and thrown into the marketplace.” 4 So before I even tasted anything, I jumped up and carried the corpse into a room until sunset. 5 Then I returned, bathed myself, and ate my bread in sorrow. 6 Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,
“Your feasts will be turned into mourning,
And all your gladness into a song of grief.”
So I wept.
7 When the sun went down, I departed, and after digging a grave, I buried him. 8 My neighbors laughed at me and said, “He is no longer afraid to be put to death for doing such a thing. He ran away before, and now, behold, he is burying the dead again.” 9 On the same night that I buried him, I returned home. But since I was defiled, I slept by the wall of the courtyard with my face uncovered. 10 However, I did not see the sparrows on the wall, for while my eyes were open the sparrows discharged their droppings into my eyes, and they became white films in my eyes. I went to physicians, but they could not help me. Then Ahikar supported me until he left for Elymais.
11 Then my wife Anna worked for hire at what women do. 12 She would send her work to the owners and they would pay her. On one occasion they paid her wages and also gave her a small goat. 13 But when she returned to me, it began to bleat. So I said to her, “Where did this goat come from? Is it not stolen? Return it to the owners, for it is unlawful to eat what is stolen.” 14 But she replied, “It was given to me as a gift. It was in addition to my wages.” But I did not believe her, telling her to return it to its owners. I blushed in embarrassment for her sake. So she answered and said to me, “Are your acts of charity and righteous deeds lawful? Behold, you are a know-it-all!”
Tobit’s Prayer
1 Then I wept in my sorrow, and with pain I prayed, saying: 2 “O Lord, You are righteous. So too are all Your works. All Your ways are mercy and truth. Your judgments are true and just forever. 3 Remember me and look upon me with favor. Do not punish me for my sins and my ignorance, nor those sins of my fathers which they committed against You. 4 Because they disobeyed Your commands, so You gave us as spoil, captivity and death. You made us a byword of disgrace among all the nations in which we were scattered.
5 Now Your judgments concerning my sins are many and they are true, because I did them, and so did my fathers. For we did not keep Your commandments. Indeed we did not walk in truth before You. 6 Now do with me as is best before You. Command that my spirit be taken up, so I may be released and become soil, since it is better for me to die than to live. For I have heard false insults, and there is much sorrow within me. Command that I be freed from distress to now enter into the eternal place. Do not turn Your face away from me.”
7 On the same day, in Ecbatana of Media, Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, happened to be insulted by her father’s maids. 8 She was married to seven husbands, but before they could be with her as a wife, Asmodeus, the evil demon, killed them. So they said to her, “Do you not recollect that you strangled these husbands? You have already had seven husbands, but you received no profit from any of them.† 9 Therefore, why punish us? If they are dead, go with them. May we never see a son or daughter of yours.” 10 When she heard this, she was so distressed that she considered hanging herself. But she said, “I am the only one of my father. If I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I will bring down his old age with sorrow into Hades.”11 So she prayed by her window and said:
Sarah’s Prayer
“Blessed are You, O Lord my God. Blessed is Your holy and precious name unto the ages. May all Your works bless You forever. 12 Now, O Lord, I offer myself completely to You. 13 Command that I be released from the land, that I may not hear such disgrace any more. 14 O Lord, You know that I am innocent of any sin with a man. 15 I have not defiled my name nor the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father’s only offspring. He has no other child who will be his heir. Neither does he have a brother close at hand, nor an adopted son that I might keep myself as a wife to him. Seven of my husbands have already perished. What should I live for? But if it does not seem good to You to kill me, command that I be looked upon with favor, and that mercy be shown to me, so I may no longer hear disgrace.”
16 The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the great glory of Raphael, 17 and he was sent to heal the two of them: to remove the white films from Tobit; to give Sarah of Raguel to Tobias the son of Tobit as a wife; and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, for it fell upon Tobias to inherit her. At that same time Tobit returned and entered his house, and Sarah of Raguel came down from her upstairs room.
1066 words
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that we see two things here. The first is the further heightening of the tension we started to see last week. Tobit and Sarah are both righteous, and seem to be innocent of any great sin themselves…but they are suffering anyway. This is a common reality for us to see and experience in this world. The second point, and the more important point, is how they each respond to this suffering. Both of them pray, turning the matter over to God. They speak honestly, with a pain that is raw and evident, but they confess that the suffering they are receiving is just, both as a punishment for the sins of the people, and their own particular sins. Then they both entrust themselves to God, accepting the suffering, but asking for vindication, for mercy, or at least for an end. And it is therefore especially important that we see God acting immediately to answer their prayer. We can see an example of how we should pray here in their two prayers. First, by confession of sin. Second, by entrusting ourselves to God’s will. Third, by asking for mercy. This is what repentance looks like; this is what our relationship with God should look like. You may notice, too, that this is exactly how the prayers of the Church are written. Finally, we should note what the names mean. Asmodeus is uncertain, but may mean something like “the destroyer.” Raphael means “God heals,” and he is one of the seven archangels.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 6
Last time, Ignatius warned the Christians in Ephesus against false teaching, and especially against the teaching of secret knowledge contrary to what had been already revealed to them. This time he explains to them that the great secrets of Christianity are mysteries indeed, but have been revealed for all who are willing to see. In this passage he develops further the idea he began a few weeks ago, talking about the silence of God, and how the Lord goes about preparing the salvation of the world.
The Mystery of Jesus’ Death
My spirit is a humble sacrifice for the cross, which is a stumbling block to unbelievers but salvation and eternal life to us. Where is the wise? Where is the debater? Where is the boasting of those who are thought to be intelligent? For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan, both from the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit. He was born and was baptized in order that by his suffering he might cleanse the water.
Now the virginity of Mary and her giving birth were hidden from the ruler of this age, as was also the death of the Lord – three mysteries to be loudly proclaimed, yet which were accomplished in the silence of God. How, then, were they revealed to the ages? A star shone forth in heaven brighter than all the stars; its light was indescribable and its strangeness caused amazement. All the rest of the constellations, together with the sun and moon, formed a chorus around the star, yet the star itself far outshone them all, and there was perplexity about the origin of this strange phenomenon, which was so unlike the others.
Consequently all magic and every kind of spell were dissolved, the ignorance so characteristic of wickedness vanished, and the ancient kingdom was abolished when God appeared in human form to bring the newness of eternal life; and what had been prepared by God began to take effect. As a result, all things were thrown into ferment, because the abolition of death was being carried out.
Promise of a Second Letter
If Jesus Christ, in response to your prayer, should reckon me worthy, and if it is his will, in a second letter that I intend to write to you I will further explain to you the subject about which I have begun to speak, namely, the divine plan with respect to the new man Jesus Christ, involving faith in him and love for him, his suffering and resurrection, especially if the Lord revels anything to me.
All of you, individually and collectively, gather together in grace, by name, in one faith and one Jesus Christ, who physically was a descendant of David, who is Son of Man and Son of God, in order that you may obey the bishop and the council of presbyters with an undisturbed mind, breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ.
Personal Greetings and Parting Requests
I am devoted to you and to those whom for the honor of God you sent to Smyrna, from where I am writing to you, with thanksgiving to the Lord and love for Polycarp as well as for you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ remembers you. Pray for the church in Syria, from where I am being led to Rome in chains, as I – the very least of the faithful there – have been judged worthy of serving the glory of God. Farewell in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, our shared hope.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Ignatius begins this passage with a clear reference to the 1st Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, where he says that “The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the very power of God.” The idea developed here is that God is working salvation for the world in plain sight, for everyone to see, but those who are opposed to God can’t see what He is doing, because they don’t understand how God works, and what He values. God’s weakness, and suffering, accomplish the very destruction of death and the abolition of the dominion of demonic powers over humankind…but it happens both secretly, and in plain sight.
Leader should also note that Ignatius is leaving them with what is most important, in case he never speaks to them again. He tells them to imitate Christ, to follow Him in humility and suffering, and in obedience to remain always in communion with the bishop and the presbyters and all the Faithful, celebrating the Eucharist for as long as they remain in this life, looking always to the life of the age to come. These points are indeed the core of what it means, practically, for all of us to follow Christ. We have to imitate Christ, and we need to be faithful to the Christian life within the communion of the Church.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
Luke 13:1-17 (Repent or Perish, Parable of Barren Fig Tree, Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman)
Last time we saw Jesus tell His disciples to always be ready for His return, giving them several examples to help them understand that His Kingdom is the true reality, and that it is overtaking and transforming everything else, so that anyone who ignores the Kingdom, or lives as though anything else is more important, is opposing God, and coming under judgment. This time, He continues with the same point, preaching that change and transformation and judgment are coming, and coming quickly, and already at the door, so that it is time NOW to repent.
Repent or Perish
13 There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo′am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.”
15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” 17 As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
Reading 30
424 words
Discussion Questions
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out a few items. First, this event that is referred to in the first paragraph is an important demonstration of the Roman governor’s character (and at this time it would indeed be Pontius Pilate), and helps us not to read his actions during the trial of the Lord correctly; historically, what seems to have happened was that there was a threat of a rebellion at Passover, so Pilate ordered a number of people to be arrested and crucified, effectively at random, in order to discourage any further violence. Second, the larger point that the Lord is making, in His first answer and in the subsequent parables, is that EVERYONE is called to repentance and faithfulness, not just those who are suffering or being punished. We are all called to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, whether we are being persecuted, or are in authority over others, or are crippled, or are in charge of the synagogue which that crippled woman attends. We are all either on the path of salvation or the path of destruction, and it is our choices, our actions in response to God’s call to us, which determine the path on which we walk.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)
Leave a Reply