1. Continuing Catholic Education 2011-2012 February 12 2012

2. Tobit Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever” (3:2) Place in the Bible: one of the “Deuterocanonical” Books – second canon. Catholic church treats both protocanonical and deuterocanonical books as divinely inspired and canonical. Authorship and Date: Author of Tobit is unknown. Modern scholars considers its composition around 200 B.C. and as early as seventh centuary B.C., Tobit is preserved intact only in Greek septuagint.

3. Contents 1.The deportation of Tobit 2.The Blindness of Tobit 3.The Suffering of Sarah 4.The commissioning of Tobias 5.The Angel Raphael 6.The Journey to Rages 7.The Marriage of Sarah and Tobias 8.The Cure of Tobit’s Blindness 9.Raphael’s Identity 10.The Song Of Tobit 11.Tobit’s Final Counsel and Death

4. Fiction or Fact? Cannot decide as fiction, simply by pointing supernatural elements. Jewish and Christian religions based on super-natural and miracle working of God. Many realistic details – Tobit’s wife’s irritation at her husband’s scrupulous honesty, her anxiety etc… God’s word: Faith and Trust in God’s providential “tender loving Care”. A model for simple,sincere,and unflagging devotion to the Lord, the mercy of God, and the strength of perseverence in the face of life’s troubles.

5. God’s providential Care Tobit exemplifies the manner of life typical of the “just” who depend on Lord to meet all their needs. He is a pre-cursor of Zechariah and Elizabeth, of Simeon and Anna, and also St.Jospeh. Tobit instruction to son, Golden Rule “and what you hate, do not do to any one” Jesus in Mt 7:12 ; Tt 4:15

6. Tobit: Theological Perspective God is nearer to us than we think, and he is ready to assist us if we remain faithfull to him Love for God must be shown in virtuous deeds and not just in words God rewards filial piety We should think highly of burying the dead properly, remaining chaste before marriage, being faithful to one’s wife or husband, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving Advanced Angeology

7. St. Raphael and Tobias We are all angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.

8. Tobias and Sarah

9. Healing of Tobit

10. Tobit and Me Relationship of Tobit and God Relationship of Tobit and his People Relationship of Tobit and his wife Parallels b/w Tobit and Sarah Relationship of Tobit and son Tobias Relationship of Tobias and Angel Raphael Relationship of Tobias and his wife Sarah

11. Messages from Book of Tobit Fidelity to Law Intercessory function of Angels Piety toward parents Purity of Marriage Reverence for the dead Value of Almsgiving, prayer and fasting God is faithful to those who are faithful