My spirit blesses the Lord, the great King; Jerusalem shall be rebuilt as his home forever. Happy for me if a remnant of my offspring survive to see your glory and to praise the King of heaven! The gates of Jerusalem shall be built with sapphire and emerald, and all your walls with precious stones. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built with gold, and their battlements with pure gold. The streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with rubies and stones of Ophir; The gates of Jerusalem shall sing hymns of gladness, and all her houses shall cry out, "Alleluia! "Blessed be God who has raised you up! may he be blessed for all ages!" For in you they shall praise his holy name forever. The end of Tobit's hymn of praise. (Tobit 13:15-18)

Today in most Western churches we read of the pain inflicted on and suffering felt by Jesus.

Seventy-six days into the book of Tobit, we read of pain undone, suffering healed, and a vision of earthy paradise.

Matthew's passion takes us beneath the towers of Jerusalem into the praetorium where Jesus is flogged, along the streets where Jesus is spat upon and stumbles, beyond the gates where Jesus is crucified and dies.

Today Tobits tells us of a Jerusalem where the very stones sing hymns of gladness. Tobit celebrates his healing. He assures us that God can penetrate the deepest darkness.

In these last days of Lent it may be time to give up our darkness. May we join Tobit in proclaiming, "Alleluia! Blessed be God who has raised you up! May he be blessed for all ages!"