This concludes the Book of Tobit. A new series of meditations on the Gospel of Thomas can be accessed at http://judasthomasdidymus.blogspot.com/. Please join me.

When Tobiah's mother died, he buried her next to his father. He then departed with his wife and children for Media, where he settled in Ecbatana with his father-in-law Raguel. He took respectful care of his aging father-in-law and mother-in-law; and he buried them at Ecbatana in Media. Then he inherited Raguel's estate as well as that of his father Tobit. He died at the venerable age of a hundred and seventeen. But before he died, he heard of the destruction of Nineveh and saw its effects. He witnessed the exile of the city's inhabitants when Cyaxares, king of Media, led them captive into Media. Tobiah praised God for all that he had done against the citizens of Nineveh and Assyria. Before dying he rejoiced over Nineveh's destruction, and he blessed the Lord God forever and ever. Amen. (Tobit 14:12-15)

As far as we know Tobiah led a favored life.

Tobiah was probably too young to feel the pangs of exile. His father and mother protected and loved him. He grew up in the capital of a great empire.

As a young man Tobiahs's father sends him on an exciting adventure. God provides an archangel to help him. He takes no wrong path. Even a demon is easily dispatched.

Tobiah succeeds in everyway. He returns to his parents with wealth, married to a beautiful woman, and with the means to heal his father's blindness.

Tobiah ends his long life blessed with seven sons, even greater wealth, and with the satisfaction of seeing his people's oppressors overturned.

We have seen that Tobiah is observant, intelligent, obedient, and willing to take a risk. He does not seem to struggle with pride, doubt, or desire.

There is no evidence that Tobiah is especially religious. But we can discern in how he listens and behaves a real sensitivity to his relationships.

Tobiah is loyal to his mother and father, he is attentive to Raphael, he is deferential to Raguel, he is generous to all he encounters. He is comfortable with himself.

Tobiah seems to know himself. He is open to others. He is open to life. Perhaps because he remains open God is always able to extend his grace.

Above is a Rembrandt etching of Tobiah and Raphael at the river. Rembrandt entitled it Tobias Scared by the Fish.

Think, my son, of all that Nadab did to Ahiqar, the very one who brought him up: Ahiqar went down alive into the earth! Yet God made Nadab's disgraceful crime rebound against him. Ahiqar came out again into the light, but Nadab went into the everlasting darkness, for he had tried to kill Ahiqar. Because Ahiqar had given alms to me, he escaped from the deadly trap Nadab had set for him. But Nadab himself fell into the deadly trap, and it destroyed him. So, my children, note well what almsgiving does, and also what wickedness does--it kills! But now my spirit is about to leave me." They placed him on his bed and he died; and he received an honorable burial. (Tobit 14:10-12)

Tobit was born in Galilee. Despite social and political pressure to the contrary, he worshiped in Jerusalem. Despite his faithfulness, Tobit was exiled to Nineveh after the conquest of the Northern Kingdom.

In the midst of his enemies Tobit built a new life and despite many impediments became prosperous. He practiced his faith and his responsibilites as best he knew how and was especially attentive to the ensuring burials for those killed by the unjust Assyrian king.

Tobit understood the risk he was taking. Eventually he suffered the risk, losing everything except his wife and son, fleeing Nineveh to escape the wrath of the king. Despite - really because of - doing what was right, Tobit paid a high price.

The evil king died and was succeeded by another. Tobit and his family returned to the Assyrian capital. He reestablished himself, perhaps not as well as before but well-enough to celebrate Pentecost with a fine feast.

Still injustice reigned. Still Tobit took risks to do what he could to restore justice. Despite exemplary faithfulness Tobit became blind. He became entirely dependent on others.

Tobit resented his vulnerability. Depending on his wife was a particular burden. Tobit's faithfulness continued, but he suffered from spiritual cataracts. Pride and self-righteousness complicated his relationships.

Tobit might have responded to his great loss with greater humility, instead he experienced an angry humiliation. Tobit inflamed his pride by assuming the stance of a victim and separating himself from loving relationships.

Despite his real faith and considerable spiritual insight, Tobit fell into a self-righteous trap. But he was not even aware of being trapped. A self-righteous Tobit could not know his true self, could not be in full relationship with others, and resisted a full relationship with God.

God's love for Tobit was such that even this self-righteousness was used as a tool of reconciliation. The self-righteous victim turned to God. Tobit asked for the wrong outcome - but he asked - and that was all that God needed to work a miracle.

To the left is Walking to Emmaeus by Rembrandt. Happy Easter Morning.

The day you bury your mother next to me, do not even stay overnight within the confines of the city. For I see that people here shamelessly commit all sorts of wickedness and treachery. (Tobit 14:10)

Timing is as mysterious as it can be crucial.

Do not leave the city before your mother dies. That would hasten her death and cause her unnecessary grief. But depart the city immediately after her burial.

Three hours on the cross. Three hours of darkness. Three days in the grave.

Nine months in the womb. Three score and ten of life. A bit less or more can make such a difference. Press too quickly or wait too long and everything changes.

We wait, we watch, we seek to discern God's time and our time.

Now, children, I give you this command: serve God faithfully and do what is right before him; you must tell your children to do what is upright and to give alms, to be mindful of God and at all times to bless his name sincerely and with all their strength.(Tobit 14:9)

To serve God we are to be upright, give alms, be mindful of God and bless God's name.

The Hebrew for upright is tsadaq. I understand this to be individual integrity. Each one of us is a particular expression of God. It is our task to fulfill this particular expression.

Giving alms is a tangible act of justice by which we recognize our relationship and responsibilities to one another. We are individuals in a community.

We are to be mindful of God and bless the name of God. We are to be attentive to the nature of ultimate reality and our relationship to the source of that reality.

We are to attend to ourselves, our relationships with others, and our relationship with God. This is how Tobit tells us to serve God... and, in the bargain, best serve ourselves.

Above is another rendering by Rembrandt of Tobit being healed. To the left is a Rembrandt etching of the crucifixion. In the life of Jesus we see righteousness, justice, and wholeness with God fulfilled.

All the nations of the world shall be converted and shall offer God true worship; all shall abandon their idols which have deceitfully led them into error, and shall bless the God of the ages in righteousness. Because all the Israelites who are to be saved in those days will truly be mindful of God, they shall be gathered together and go to Jerusalem; in security shall they dwell forever in the land of Abraham, which will be given over to them. Those who sincerely love God shall rejoice, but those who become guilty of sin shall completely disappear from the land. "Now, as for you, my son, depart from Nineveh; do not remain here. (Tobit 14:6-8)

As we read Hebrew scripture we can see how the God of one obscure tribe evolves. Tobit envisions a day when he will share his God with the whole world.

The story of God has emerged over time and experience: the plot has moved from avenger to lawgiver, demanding to self-sacrificing, angry to loving.

There are those who perceive God has changed as the relationship between God and humanity has changed.

Certainly the expressions of God have continued to unfold and multiply. If God is infinite there is no end to the possibilties.

But I am inclined to perceive God's essential character has remained the same. It is our understanding that has changed and should continue to change.

As for our kinsmen who dwell in Israel, they shall all be scattered and led away into exile from the Good Land. The entire country of Israel shall become desolate; even Samaria and Jerusalem shall become desolate! God's temple there shall be burnt to the ground and shall be desolate for a while. But God will again have mercy on them and bring them back to the land of Israel. They shall rebuild the temple, but it will not be like the first one, until the era when the appointed times shall be completed. Afterward all of them shall return from their exile, and they shall rebuild Jerusalem with splendor. In her the temple of God shall also be rebuilt; yes, it will be rebuilt for all generations to come, just as the prophets of Israel said of her. (Tobit 14:4-5)

We experience tragedy, we know transcendence.

What some call "natural religion" is often talismanic. The religious impulse is focused on avoidance of pain and death. A common corollary is to invoke divine assurance of health, prosperity, and success.

At the core of Jewish and Christian faithfulness is shared suffering.

It is in exile that the descendents of Abraham most fully engage God. It is on and through the cross that humanity most fully encounters the divine.

By courageously, even lovingly embracing the tragic we can, with God's help, experience healing and wholeness.