I’ve always wondered about the seeming unrealistic case posted by the Sadducees to test our Lord Jesus in Mk 12:18-27 about a woman married and widowed seven times. The theme of the story is about the truth of the resurrection. In any case, it is serendipitous that the First Reading today (Tobit 3:1-11;24-25) is synchronized with this gospel episode. In my meditation, I was somehow able to find answer to my question: “how would a woman with this experience feel?” Here’s what the Book of Tobit recounts: “(…) Sarah had been married to seven husbands, but the wicked demon Asmodeus killed them off before they could have intercourse with her, as it is prescribed for wives. So the maid said to her: "You are the one who strangles your husbands! Look at you! You have already been married seven times, but you have had no joy with any one of your husbands. Why do you beat us? Because your husbands are dead? Then why not join them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!" That day she was deeply grieved in spirit. She went in tears to an upstairs room in her father's house with the intention of hanging herself.
But the beauty of the Wisdom books such as this one of Tobit is that in relating real life episodes, it also brings out the values that are more important and are to be held high in moments of trial. The story of Sarah continues thus: “She reconsidered, saying to herself: "No! People would level this insult against my father: 'You had only one beloved daughter, but she hanged herself because of ill fortune!' And thus would I cause my father in his old age to go down to the nether world laden with sorrow. It is far better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord to have me die, so that I need no longer live to hear such insults."
The lectionary reading ends with a promise: “At that very time, the prayer of these two (Tobit and Sarah) suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.” If you want to anticipate the story and its resolution, you can go here.
But the beauty of the Wisdom books such as this one of Tobit is that in relating real life episodes, it also brings out the values that are more important and are to be held high in moments of trial. The story of Sarah continues thus: “She reconsidered, saying to herself: "No! People would level this insult against my father: 'You had only one beloved daughter, but she hanged herself because of ill fortune!' And thus would I cause my father in his old age to go down to the nether world laden with sorrow. It is far better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord to have me die, so that I need no longer live to hear such insults."
The lectionary reading ends with a promise: “At that very time, the prayer of these two (Tobit and Sarah) suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.” If you want to anticipate the story and its resolution, you can go here.
