Prayer on a Wedding Night
The whole story of Tobit is not related over these few days of readings. During Tobiah’s travels with Raphael, just like in a good video game, he picks up some things along the way to help him when needed. (There is a good fish story in this book.) Tobiah reaches his uncle’s home and asks for Sarah’s hand in marriage. Actually he kind of demands her hand in marriage. A contract of marriage is drawn up, according to their custom. Then that night Tobiah asks his wife to rise and kneel with him in prayer. Many couples choose this reading for their weddings. Here is the prayer:
“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers,
praised be your name forever and ever.
Let the heavens and all your creation
praise you forever.
You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve
to be his help and support;
and from these two the human race descended.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
let us make him a partner like himself.’
Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine
not because of lust,
but for a noble purpose.
Call down your mercy on me and on her,
and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
Tobiah is expressing his love for Sarah. Take a second look at these words. Do you see the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself? All love is directed toward a noble purpose.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen