MASS READINGS, General Week 9 - Thursday, JUNE 03, 2021 FIRST READING “Deign to have mercy on me and her, and lead us together into old age. " A Reading from the book of Tobit (6, 10-11; 7, 1.9-17; 8, 4-9a)

MASS READINGS, General Week 9 - Thursday, JUNE 03, 2021 

FIRST READING 

“Deign to have mercy on me and her, and lead us together into old age. " 

A Reading from the book of Tobit (6, 10-11; 7, 1.9-17; 8, 4-9a) 

In those days, when Raphael entered Media and was already approaching Ecbatane, he said to the boy: "Tobias, my brother", and the latter replied: "What is it? Raphael went on: "We must stay with Ragouel tonight. This man is your relative, and he has a daughter named Sarra. »Entering Ecbatane, Tobias said to Raphael:« Azarias, my brother, lead me straight to our brother Ragouël. Raphael therefore took him to Ragouel's. They found him seated at the entrance to the courtyard and greeted him first. He answered them: “Great joy to you, brothers, welcome! And he brought them into his house. Tobias and Raphael took a bath, they washed themselves, before taking their places for the meal. Then, Tobias said to Raphael: “Azarias, my brother, asks Ragouël to give me in marriage Sarra my relative. "Ragouël heard these words and said to the young Tobias:" Tonight, eat, drink, have a good time: you alone have the right to marry my daughter Sarra, and I myself do not have the power to give her. to another man, since you are my next of kin. However, I must tell you the truth, my child: I gave her in marriage to seven of our brothers, and they died that very night, just as they were going to approach her. But now, my child, eat and drink: the Lord will intervene on your behalf. Tobias replied, "I will not eat or drink anything until you make a decision about me." »Ragouël said to him:« Very well! it is given to you in marriage according to the decree of the Book of Moses; it is a judgment from heaven that has granted it to you. So take your sister. Because, from now on, you are her brother and she is your sister. From today it is given to you forever. May the Lord of heaven watch over you tonight, my child, and fill you with his mercy and peace! "

Ragouël called Sarra, who came towards him. He took his daughter's hand and gave her to Tobit, saying: "Take her away: according to the Law and the decree recorded in the Book of Moses, she is given to you to wife." Take her and drive her in good health to your father. And may the God of heaven guide you in peace! Then he called his wife and told her to bring a sheet on which he wrote the marriage certificate, according to which he gave Sarra to Tobias according to the decree of the law of Moses. After that, we began to eat and drink. Ragouël addressed his wife Edna: "Go and prepare the second room, my sister, and you will take our daughter there." She went to prepare the bed in the bedroom, as Ragouël had requested, led her daughter there and wept over her. Then she wiped away her tears and said, “Trust me, my daughter! May the Lord of heaven turn your pain into joy! Trust, my daughter! Then she withdrew.

When Sarra's parents left the room and closed the door, Tobie got out of bed and said to Sarra, “Get up, sister. Let us pray, and ask our Lord to fill us with his mercy and his salvation. She stood up, and they began to pray and ask for salvation. Tobias began thus: “Blessed are you, God of our fathers; blessed be your name in all generations, forever. May the heavens bless you and all your creation for ever. It is you who made Adam; you gave him help and support: Eve, his wife. And from both of them the human race was born. It was you who said: “It is not good that the man is alone. I will make him a helper similar to him. ” Also, it is not for an illegitimate union that I am taking my sister here, but in the truth of the Law. Deign to have mercy on me and her, and lead us together in old age. "Then they said with one voice," Amen! Amen! And they went to bed for the night. 

- Word of the Lord. 

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