PRAYER IN DISTRESS WILL ANSWER IN DISGUISE

Prayer in time of crisis and discouragement is the cry of a petitioner which would bring God grace immeasurably. Its’ been three months since we lived a normal life. The series of lockdowns have served as an occasion for many people to render their generosity and help. The health care professionals are helping the sick to recover. The officials are reaching out to the people. The sanitation workers, social workers and volunteers are risking their lives to safeguard the people from contracting virus, poverty and hunger. Besides these good help and commendable serves, one greatest help that all of us can do to the society is prayer. Prayer doesn’t claim our material things. It only requires our time. To pray at this moment of crisis and discouragement is a sign of our hope in the Lord. Tobit and Sarah in the book of Tobit in the Scripture are two persons from whom we can take inspiration for our prayer in distress.

Prayer in Distress

Tobit was a righteous man and he always focused his conduct in doing what was right (Tob 1:3). In his younger days he faithfully made regular pilgrimages to Jerusalem for festive celebrations and observed the law of Moses with high esteem. Even in exile at Nineveh, he was excelling in carrying out the acts of mercy such as almsgiving, sharing the meal with the poor, burying the dead. It was on the account of burying the dead Israelites who were brutally murdered by Sennacherib, the emperor of Nineveh that Tobit’s life was in danger. He ran away from the emperor and hid himself. Though Tobit outshone in his goodness and piety still he had to face a great tragedy in his life. One fine day as he was sleeping in the courtyard the hot droppings of sparrow fell into his eyes and made him quasi blind. He made all the efforts to consult one doctor after another, but the more they treated him with their medicines, the worse his eyes became, until finally he was completely blind.  Besides these physical suffering, his wife Anna also disturbed him psychologically by questioning about his faith in God who instead of bestowing blessing upon him for the good works have inflicted him with the grave illness. At the hearing of this curse from his wife, Tobit was embarrassed and deeply distressed. But he did not curse his God or shut the mouth of his wife. Rather, he started praying to God with tears in his eyes. His prayer consisted of praising of God, confessing his sins and begging the Lord to take his life (Tob 3:2-6).

That same day in the city of Ecbatana in Media, it happened that Sarah, the daughter of a man named Raguel, was insulted by one of her father's servant women. Sarah had been married seven times, but the evil demon, Asmodeus, killed each husband before the marriage could be consummated. The servant woman cursed Sarah for being bad luck to her husbands and suggested her to end her life. At the hearing of this curse Sarah was deeply depressed and burst into tears. She even decided to end her life by hanging but, for the sake of reserving the good reputation of his father in the society she started praying to God for the natural end of her life. Like Tobit, the prayer of Sarah was also of praising of God, confessing her sins and begging the Lord to take her life (Tob 3:11-15).

God’s Action in Disguise

Both Tobit and Sarah prayed to God in their time of distress and depression. They prayed to God with tears in their eyes. Both of their prayers found favour before God in heaven. God sent his angel Raphael in disguise to Tobias, the son to Tobit to deliver both Tobit and Sarah from their affliction. The angel Raphael insisted Tobias to marry Sarah and guided them to make a prayer at night before they could enter into relationship so that Tobias’ life is preserved from the destruction of evil demon, Asmodeus. As an effect of their prayer the demon was overthrown, Tobias and Sarah successfully consummated their marriage. Thus, the affliction of Sarah was brought to end.

Tobias set out with his wife Sarah to meet his parents; Tobit and Anna. Tobias upon his arrival, as per the prescription of angel Raphael applied the gall on the eyes of his father Tobit which Tobias had taken from the fish at Tigris River. At once, Tobit threw his arms around Tobias' neck and wept for joy. Then he exclaimed, “I can see you! My son, the light of my eyes!” (Tob 11:14). Thus, the affliction of Tobit ended.

Surrendering in Prayer

Today in the covid-19 pandemic affected world some of us may find ourselves in the place of Tobit and Sarah. In spite of all our goodness and profound faith in God some of us may find ourselves deeply affected in various ways such as; contracting virus, losing the dear ones, unemployment, economic crisis and the uncertainty about the future. Some of us even may have people like Anna, the wife of Tobit and Servant girl of Sarah’s father who would question our belief in God, disturb our faith and thus leading to depression and distress. At this moment of crisis like Tobit and Sarah we need to be astute enough to choose the weapon of prayer and focus our thoughts on God.

A prayer with deep faith and tears in the eyes would always find favour before God. He would send his angels in disguise such as; doctors, nurses, health care professionals, officials, volunteers, neighbours – just to mention a few – to overcome all our afflictions. Jesus told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Mt 26:41). These days are very crucial for our faith. It is the work of the demon to make the other person to question our faith and lead us into discouragement and temptation. For them it is a temptation but for us it a test and opportunity to profess our faith in Jesus. We need to be on watch. Jesus prayed to the Father in Gethsemane with deep sorrow and trouble (Mt 26:38) so that He may be able to endure his passion, suffering and death with great strength. Let us entrust ourselves to the will of God in prayer so that God’s power may rule in us to overthrow the power of evil. Jesus while hanging on the cross prayed for His persecutors amidst pain and sorrow. Let our prayer also be selfless. Let us pray for others. St. Paul in his first letter to Thessalonians says “pray unceasingly” (1 Thess 5:17). Prayer can make things happen. Prayer can effect great change in humanity. St. Monica prayed for the conversion of His son Augustine for years. Her prayer was answered in great manner. The grave sinner Augustine turned to be great saint in the history of the church. This is the power of prayer. Prayer is the greatest help that society is in need of. Let us extend our generosity in dedicating ample time in prayer.