Bishop Tobin on Tobit Moments We All Face

"The readings for daily Mass this [past] week have been taken from the Book of Tobit, one of the most colorful and interesting books of the Bible. (And by the way, that’s Tobit, not Tobin!)

""According to the introduction to the book found in the New American Bible: 'The Book of Tobit, named after its principal character, combines Jewish piety and morality with folklore in a fascinating story. Prayer, psalms, and words of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself, provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious milieu of its unknown author. The inspired author of the book used the literary form of religious novel for the purpose of instruction and edification.'

"In its compact fourteen chapters, the drama includes a serious health crisis, domestic arguments worthy of Archie and Edith Bunker, several mysterious deaths, the intervention of heavenly spirits, and, ultimately, a happy ending. In other words, the Book of Tobit has all the makings of a contemporary soap opera.

". . . the truth is, we all have some 'Tobit moments' in our lives, those moments when we're convinced that someone has unceremoniously dumped on us. These are the times when we feel that the world has turned against us, that someone is treating us unfairly, that we're the innocent victims of a 'vast right wing conspiracy,' or something.

"Perhaps these moments come from the onset of an unusual illness; or when I've lost my job because of a vindictive boss; or when the incompetent bishop has given me the worst assignment in the diocese; or when my valuable contributions to an important project aren't recognized; or when I'm randomly selected for an income tax audit. You get the idea.

"Anytime I find myself in a situation that causes me to ask 'why me?' and then start to feel sorry for myself - that's a Tobit moment. And the way that we respond to these situations tells a lot about our character. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on lessons that may be gleaned from the Book of Tobit, including the need to remember that, regardless of the bad things that come our way, we still have many wonderful blessings and that we should think about other people who are dealing with more serious, life-changing problems.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: We All Have Some Tobit Moments (8 JUN 17)

To acces one translation of the Book of Tobit, please visit:

New American Bible: The Book of Tobit