(Homily
for June 8, 2017)
What is a sacramental? A
simple definition is: anything that is used for its symbolic value to bring
about a spiritual effect in the life of a person. Tobit had been blind for
quite some time now. He had been to several doctors but the more they tried to
cure him, the more his condition became worse.
Today, the Angel Raphael
told Tobias to extract the gall of a fish and rub it on Tobit’s eyes for his
healing. Ordinarily, the gall of a fish has nothing to do with curing a man’s
blindness, but when Tobias applied the gall into Tobit’s eyes, it became a sacramental.
It wasn’t the gall of a dead
fish that opened Tobit’s eyes, rather it was the Power of God working through the
steady faith of Tobias as he obeyed the Angel’s instruction.
Sacramentals are mere
objects but when understood as symbols of God’s power, they can be used by us
in so many ways to bring about a better and happier life. All power belongs to
God and it is always God at work when we use sacramentals.
With God all things are
possible. In fact, God does not need sacramentals in other to act, his power is
not limited to our use of the rosary, scapular or other items. Sacramentals
only help to increase our faith given that we humans are moved by sight, smell,
touch, taste etc.
We must be careful not to
transfer worship to sacramental items otherwise that becomes idolatry. We must
always remember that it is God at work when we use sacramentals not the sacramental
themselves. Without our Faith in God, the sacramentals become useless.
Notice that when Tobit’s
eyes were opened, the first thing he did was to give praise to God. Tobit did
not sing praises to the gall of the fish because he knew it only acted as a
sacramental.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, heal
me of all my sicknesses. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 9th
Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Tobit 11:5-15 and Mark 12:35-37).*
Fr. Abu.
This is beautiful and very enriching, thank you Fr.
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