During this past week we have been introduced in our first reading to snippets of an edifying tale which, although not included in the canon of Jewish scriptures nor in most Protestant canons, was included in the Church's canon of the Old Testament in 393 at the Council of Hippo. Most scholars do not consider the text as historical, but like the story of Esther or the story of Suzanna, it is nevertheless a moving story containing several important themes, including the need to maintain faith in times when it appears that God has abandoned us, and the importance of family ties and loyalty to one another. It is also a testimony to the role of a people of faith in mediating God's salvation even while living among people who do not know God.

Today we come to the climax of our tale - the moment when Tobit's son Tobias returns with the mysterious stranger from his journey and adventures. Taking the gall of the fish and smearing it over his father's eyes, his father recovers his sight and rejoices to see his son again, the "light of his eyes." As Tobias reports the results of his journey we come to realize that it was as a consequence of the misfortune that Tobit suffered that all of these blessings eventually had come. The lesson: If we bear our sufferings with faith and patience, they will be converted into a joy that we might otherwise never know. God is able to use our suffering as a means of bringing us his blessings.