Day 1 (Monday)
Tobit 5:1-23
Last time we saw Tobit give Tobias his inheritance; which is to say, he passed on to him all the wisdom about how to live a faithful and blessed life that he had, and then gave him instructions where to find the last money that he had saved for him. This time, we will start to get to know Tobias as he responds; and we will also see God’s messenger, the angel Raphael, enter the scene.
Tobias Obeys His Father
1 Tobias answered him and said, “O father, I will do everything you have commanded me. 2 But how will I be able to obtain the silver, for I do not know him?” 3 Then he gave him the record of the debt and said to him, “Find for yourself a man who will travel with you, and I will pay him his wages as long as I remain alive. Now go and obtain the silver.” 4 Then Tobias went to look for a man and found Raphael, who was an angel. But he did not know it.
5 So Tobias said to him, “Can you go with me to Rages of Media? Are you acquainted with those places?” 6 The angel said to him, “I will go with you. I am acquainted with the roadways and I have lodged with our brother Gabael.” 7 Tobias said to him, “Wait for me and I will tell my father.” 8 He said to him, “Do so, but do not delay.” 9 So he went to his father and said, “Behold, I have found someone who will go with me.” But his father said, “Call him to me, that I may know what tribe he belongs to, and if he is trustworthy enough to go with you.”
10 So he invited him, and Raphael came in. They greeted one another cordially. 11 Tobit then said to him, “Brother, to what tribe and kindred do you belong?” 12 Raphael responded, “Do you seek a tribe and a family, or a hired man to go with your son?” Tobit replied, “Brother, I wish to know your people and your name.” 13 Then he said, “I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the Great, one of your relatives.”
14 So Tobit said to him, “You are most welcome, my brother. Do be not angry with me for seeking to learn of your tribe and your family. As it turns out, you are a brother of mine from a good and upright family. For I knew Ananias and Jonathan, the sons of Shemiah the Great, since we would journey in common to Jerusalem to worship and to offer the firstborn and the tenth of our harvest. They were not led astray in the deception of our brothers. My brother, you are from a good root. 15 “But tell me, what shall I give you as wages? A drachma a day and expenses for you and my son? 16 I will even add more to your pay, if you both return in good health.” 17 Thus they were well pleased.
Then he said to Tobias, “Prepare for the journey, and may it be prosperous.” So his son prepared the things for the journey. Then his father said to him, “Go with this man, and may the God who dwells in heaven prosper your journey. May His angel journey with you.” They both departed, and the young man's dog went with them.
18 But Anna his mother wept and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent our son away, or is he not the staff of our hands when he goes in and out before us? 19 Do not attain silver upon silver, but may it be dirt compared to our son. 20 For as he was given to us to live by the Lord, this is sufficient for our existence.” 21 Tobit said to her, “My sister, do not be concerned. He shall return in good health, and your eyes will see him. 22 For a good angel will go with him, and his journey shall be prosperous. He will return in good health.” 23 So she ceased weeping.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note the exchange between the angel and Tobit about what tribe he is from. Tobit is, as it turns out, trying to figure out what kind of person this “man” is, and most especially whether he is faithful, or faithless. Raphael calls attention to this for us, asking him why he cares, if he’s just looking for a hired man. When Tobit persists (without giving a reason, but still insisting), Raphael gives him the name of another faithful Israelite, and Tobit rejoices, specifically for this reason. This allows us to see how carefully Tobit guards against faithlessness; he works hard not to allow even any evil influence to come to his son. We can point out, too, that Tobit’s faith, that God will protect his son by “sending a good angel with him” doesn’t mean that he knows Raphael is an angel himself, but only that he trusts God to protect his son. That he’s already spoken with that angel God is sending is unknown to him…but he’s not wrong in the least about God’s faithfulness.)
2) What do we learn about God in this reading?
3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?
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 2 (Wednesday)
Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 4
So far, St. Ignatius has been warning the Christians in Ephesus about how they should trust and submit to their bishop, and be wary of false teachers coming in to lead them astray. At this point in the letter, he turns to more practical matters, and gives guidance in how they should interact with those outside of the Church, especially when being mistreated by them. Since the Christians at this time were undergoing an active persecution, this is not just theoretical advice, but very real. Ignatius’ advice would have a strong authority on this subject, since he was himself DOING what he tells others to do here.
Response to Maltreatment
Pray continually for the rest of humankind as well, that they may find God, for there is in them hope for repentance. Therefore allow them to be instructed by you, at least by your deeds. In response to their anger, be gentle; in response to their boasts, be humble; in response to their slander, offer prayers; in response to their errors, be steadfast in the faith; in response to their cruelty, be civilized; do not be eager to imitate them. Let us show by our forbearance that we are their brothers and sisters, and let us be eager to be imitators of the Lord, to see who can be the more wronged, who the more cheated, who the more rejected, in order that no weed of the devil may be found among you, but that with complete purity and self-control you may abide in Christ Jesus physically and spiritually.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the way of living that St. Ignatius advises here is exceptionally difficult. It might be worth asking everyone to reflect on what this might look like in their own lives, if there is an example of a situation in which they are being mistreated or mocked in which they could follow this example of St. Ignatius, and bear witness to Christ and the transforming power of His love by patient endurance of mocking, mistreatment, and suffering. It doesn’t have to be on account of our Faith for us to bear witness to Christ, either…we are called to love our enemies, regardless of why they make themselves our enemies. This is an important discussion, so we purposely selected a shorter selection so as to allow for more time for this.)
2) What do we learn about God in this reading?
3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?
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 17:1-19
This passage continues the recounting of Jesus’ teaching His disciples, and various others along the way to Jerusalem for His passion. This time He is speaking to His disciples specifically, and preparing them for the challenges and temptations of His Passion, and still more for their ministry afterward.
Some Sayings of Jesus
17 Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Discussion Questions
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Most of the pieces of this selection are fairly self-explanatory. Leader should point out about verse 3-4 that it is, in fact, tremendously difficult to implement both halves of the Lord’s instructions. Most of us are very uncomfortable rebuking sin in one another…but if we ever work up the courage to do so, we struggle still more to forgive them if they repent. But the Lord insists that we must do both, and not just once, but even seven times in a single day. The passage regarding the slave, in verses 7-10, is challenging, simply because it assumes the institution of slavery. The Lord is not saying that slavery is good, however; He is simply using a common example to make the point that doing the “bare minimum” required in a job is not worthy of praise…it’s just the bare minimum. We should not content ourselves with just “being good enough” or “being no worse than anyone else around us.” We are called to holiness and faithfulness, to Theosis, to become like the Lord. There is no room for half measures, for “good enough.” We need to be consistent, and we need to be faithful.)
2) What do we learn about God in this story?
3) What do we learn about human beings in this story?
4) What do you find difficult about this story? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always.).
5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life?