The Blessed Tobias as a Paradigm of Unwavering Obedience

by Bishop [Metropolitan] Ambrose of Methoni

 

 

An address given in honor of Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fill at the Holy Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina, Fill, Greece (October 1978).

 

Our Much-Revered and Much-Loved Spiritual Father in Christ:

In the Old Testament we read the most astonishing story of the blessed Tobit and his son Tobias. Holy Scripture tells us that Tobit, although he was an exile and a prisoner together with the rest of the Jews in the city of Nineveh, in Mesopotamia, nevertheless faithfully fulfilled all the commandments of the Divine Law. [1]

Once, when he had sat down to eat, he was informed by his son Tobias that a dead Jew, a compatriot of his, had been thrown out into the marketplace. Tobit immediately rose and, at the risk of his own life, took the corpse and hid it until evening, when he buried it, contrary to the strict orders of the king.

Afterwards, since he had been “polluted” by the corpse, he slept outside the house in the courtyard, where he suffered an accident that left him blind: “And a whiteness came in mine eyes; and I went to the physicians, but they helped me not.” [2]

Thereupon, weeping over his misfortune, Tobit prayed fervently to the Lord, and that day he remembered the ten talents of silver that he had given to Gabael at Rages, in Media: “In that day, Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media.” [3]

And he decided to send his son, the youth Tobias, to the distant city to recover this money, despite the protests of his wife, Anna. [4]

The blessed Tobias immediately obeyed, without hesitation: “Tobias then answered and said to him: ‘Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me.’” [5]

And he departed from the house to find someone whom he could take along as a companion on his long journey.

It is precisely here that the first great miracle occurred: “And he found Raphael, who was an Angel; but he knew it not... And the Angel said to him: T will go with thee.’” [6]

What do we see in this miraculous event, Brothers and Fathers?

Certainly on account of the virtue and piety of the father, Tobit, but assuredly, too, because of the obedience and reverence of the son, Tobias, the Lord sent His Archangel, Raphael, to accompany the youth on the journey to Rages, in Media, and to escort him back again to Nineveh.

But this is not the only miracle that took place; others followed as well:

• Tobit’s money was found and returned, through the Archangel Raphael. [7]

• Later on, when Tobias reached Ekbatana, with the advice, guidance and intervention of the Archangel Raphael, he took as his wife the righteous Sarah, who was of his tribe, as his father had instructed him: “Take not a strange woman to wife, who is not of thy father’s tribe, for we are the children of the Prophets: Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our fathers from the beginning.’’ [8]

• Finally, and most significantly, at the instigation of the Archangel, he brought with him the remedy for the healing of his father’s eyes, and Tobit regained his sight and wept and glorified God. [9]

This most soul-profiting narrative concludes with the revelation of the identity of the heavenly travelling companion, who says to Tobit and Tobias:

“I am Raphael, one of the seven Holy Angels, who present the prayers of the Saints, and who go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.... Fear not, for peace shall be with you; bless God forever, for it was not by any favor of mine, but by the will of God that I came, wherefore bless Him forever.’’ [10]

I wanted to begin my humble speech with the moving story of Tobit, in order to draw from it some thoughts concerning the subject of our gathering this evening.

We, too, like the young Tobias, revere our spiritual Father; we have assembled here for the purpose of expressing our filial wishes that he might have a long life and that he might be healthy in all ways, something which is also good for our own salvation and sanctification.

Truly, the Book of Tobit is very beneficial, because in its fourteen small chapters are stored up important Divine teachings, great piety, and a powerful notion which is especially interesting to us who are monastics living the communal life: the deep spiritual bond of father and son, elder and youth, Tobit and Tobias.

The blessed Tobias, through his reverent obedience and his faith in the word of his father, received such gifts of Grace!

Forthwith he declared: “Father, I will do all things which thou hast commanded me.’’ [11]

He objected neither to the danger of the journey nor the great distance, nor the possibility that Raguel, who had his father’s money, could have died....

But with simplicity of heart, he showed trust...!

And the blessings that followed were incalculable, culminating with the aged Tobit regaining his sight.

At this point, especially, we should observe how obedience always has a twofold advantage, and that it proves beneficial as much to the one who gives it as to the one who carries it out.

The pious and righteous Tobit made himself subject to Divine Law, disregarding his own life; and as he was foundering in the immeasurable affliction of poverty and blindness, he prayed; and his prayer was heard. He then gave the command to his son, and Tobias submitted; and the Lord blessed both of them...!

That is, we have a chain of obedience, a unity by means of obedience, an obedience in return for obedience, which is reminiscent of a blessed Patristic saying from the Gerontikon: “Obedience has obedience as its return; if one obeys God, God obeys him.’’ [12]

“Abba Mios of Beleou said that obedience brings obedience. If one obeys God, God obeys him.’’ [13]

* * *

I think, as well, that it would be good at this juncture to remind ourselves of the following great truth.

What kind of obedience is it that gives rise to such miracles?

The Holy Fathers speak about unadulterated obedience.

Indeed, St. John, in his famous Ladder of Divine Ascent, describes with characteristic precision the signs of unadulterated obedience and of the genuine disciple (hypotaktikos).

He says plainly:

When, in the absence of the Superior (Proestos), we picture his face, and believe that this makes him present to us, and whenever we forego every meeting, or word, or food, or sleep, or anything else with which we might suppose him to be displeased, then we are truly pursuing unadulterated obedience. Illegitimate children reckon the absence of the teacher to be a matter of joy, whereas legitimate children consider this to be a punishment. [14]

Our Much-Revered Spiritual Father:

Pray, we beseech you, that we may value this great gift of our Lord.

And what is this gift? That we have a spiritual Father.

Many desire this gift but, unfortunately, are deprived of it.

Pray, however, that we may live this blessing of obedience in a genuine way, that we might become genuine disciples and thus see the wonders of God in our daily life.

In this way, may there be brought to fruition, for the benefit of our lay brothers and sisters, too, that which St. John says in the Ladder:

“Angels are a light to monks; the monastic way of life is the light of all men.’’ [15]

When you, our revered Father, abandoned the world and came to this place, you had other plans: your vision was a small cell in which to live a life of repentance....

But our Lord willed that a monastery should be planted here for the benefit of countless souls.

So, you were obedient to the Divine Will; and every stage in the development of our monastery, and your every tribulation and temptation, provided you profound and rich experience, so that today we see in your face the mature and experienced Guide to whom we entrust ourselves with confidence.

Through your person, we discern in every detail the way in which the Providence of God works for our salvation, as well as His love for our progress and the spiritual journey of our monastery.

From your person we draw power and hope, and for this reason we pray that you will be always able, healthy, and untiring, standing unyieldingly at the rudder of the ship that guides us into the calm haven of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The honor, reverence, and love that we owe to you are boundless....

 

Notes

1. Tobit 1.

2. Tobit 2:10.

3. Tobit 4:1.

4. Tobit 5:18.

5. Tobit 5:1.

6. Tobit 5: 4, 6.

7. Tobit 9.

8. Tobit 4:12.

9. Tobit 6:9; 11:3, 6-7, 10-13.

10. Tobit 12:15, 17-18.

11. Tobit 5:1.

12. Abba Mios, §1, Gerontikon [in Greek] (Athens: Astir Publications, 1961), p. 78.

13. Basil Pentzas, The Elder Said... [in Greek], Abba Mios, §1, (Athens: Astir Publications, 1974), p. 175.

14. St. John of Sinai, The Ladder [in Greek], Discourse 4, §47.

15. Ibid., Discourse 26.1, §23.

 

Source: Orthodox Tradition, Vol. XVI (1999), Nos. 3-4, pp. 26-29.