5 June 2021

Do good, and evil will not overtake you. Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies.

Tobit 12:1,5-15,20,NRSV

Following the feast Tobit held on the return of his son Tobias and new daughter in law Sarah, Tobit advised his son that he should think about paying his fellow traveller and that he should be paid more than the amount due. Neither Tobit nor Tobias knew that the travelling companion was in fact the angel Raphael. They settled on a more than generous payment and offered this to Raphael who then revealed his true identity and explained his part in carrying out God’s plan for them. Raphael had been part of the testing and then healing of both Tobit and Sarah. Raphael advised giving the payment in almsgiving explaining that this would not only benefit the recipients but also those who gave the alms.

• • How do you think Tobit and Tobias felt when they realised who the travelling companion had been?
  • What part should almsgiving have in our lives?

Reflect on your charitable support for those in need.