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Verse 2
Theosis · English Bible
Tobit

Tobit 12

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1Then Tobit called his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see that the man have his wages, which went with thee, and thou must give him more. 2And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm to me to give him half of those things which I have brought: 3for he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and made whole my wife, and brought me the money, and likewise healed thee. 4Then the old man said, It is due unto him. 5So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take half of all that ye have brought, and go away in safety. 6Then he took them both apart, and said unto them, Bless God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he hath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and honourably to shew forth the works of God; therefore be not slack to praise him. 7It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. 8Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: 9for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: 10but they that sin are enemies to their own life. 11Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was good to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to reveal the works of God. 12Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One: and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise. 13And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner, to go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was with thee. 14And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in law. 15I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One. 16Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they feared. 17But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you; praise God therefore. 18For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came; wherefore praise him for ever. 19All these days I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor drink, but ye did see a vision. 20Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to him that sent me; but write all things which are done in a book. 21And when they arose, they saw him no more. 22Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared unto them.

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Tobit 12:2

Dimitri of Rostov

Dimitri of Rostov17th century

The venerable Tobiah, filled with great joy in his old age and having regained his sight, marveled at the light of heaven and the presence of his beloved son and daughter-in-law, Sarah, with her gifts. He turned to his son and asked, “What can we offer this holy man who has journeyed with you?” Young Tobiah responded, “Father, what reward can we bestow upon him, and how can we appropriately compensate him for all he has done? He accompanied me and returned me healthy. He bestowed upon me a wife, driving the demon from her. He rescued me from the fish’s grasp, restored your sight to behold the light of heaven, and filled our lives with countless blessings. What can we offer him in a manner fitting for all these mercies?”

Beloved, we are aware of the innumerable favors the holy Angels, our guardians, extend to us as per God’s will. What expressions of gratitude can we present to them before the Lord God? What worthy offering can we give in acknowledgment of their kindness? Let us surrender ourselves to them, becoming their faithful servants, consistently striving to fulfill their desires. We must heed their promptings towards virtuous actions, follow their instructions, and refrain from repelling them through sinful behaviors and moral corruption.

The pure and holy Angels cherish communion with the righteous. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit” (2 Cor. 7:1) and place our trust in the shelter of their wings. O Holy Archangel Michael, along with the entire assembly of angels, may you shield our heads in the trials we face, both seen and unseen. Envelop us in your protection, driving away all adversaries and foes. Amen.