Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
In the 1sr reading of today’s Mass, there are a number of themes that particularly call for prayerful consideration in our country today – hospitality, cohesive family life, true happiness, the nature of marriage – to name but a few.
Here’s one for a starter. The inordinate desire for sexual pleasure was the cause of death of Sarah’s husbands-to-be. Today, sociological studies tell us we live in an over-sexualized, pornographic society, which is a cause of the failure of authentic marriage and a reason why so many young people put off entering a grace-filled married life.
Tobiah and Sarah gave witness to the fact that it takes three to make a true, lasting marriage: a man, a woman and God. We should pray daily that this teaching be known, broadcast and practiced by those to whom God gives the holy vocation to be husbands and wives, fathers and mothers.
Resolve: I shall begin to include in my daily prayers a special request to Mary and Joseph, that they give the same care for the young Tobiahs and Sarahs in the Church today that they once so lovingly gave to Jesus.