"He is God, not of the dead, but of the living." God restores life in abundance.

Death seems to be liberation for many people who experience great bodily or spiritual suffering. In today's first reading, we see Tobit and Sarah - two deeply distressed people praying for death because they consider their lives heavy. Tobit is blind, cursed by his wife and abandoned by his friends. Sarah's life is ruined by a demon that killed her seven husbands.

However, God, Who listens to the prayer of the afflicted, is God of life and not death. He is God who delivers those who trust Him from sin, misery and oppression to restore life in abundance. God also knows the proper time to touch someone's life with His grace. It was no coincidence that the prayers of Tobit and Sarah were heard at the same time. God - who delivers us from evil and death - brings people together so that they may share His gifts of life and love.

A very special sign of God's providence in our lives is the presence of His angels. They guide and heal us in the same way as the Archangel Raphael brought a remedy to Tobit, Sarah and their families. They also remind us about our final destiny - resurrection to glory.