Catholic Commentary on Tobit 11

"Then he put the gall of the fish to his father's eyes, saying, 'Take courage, father.' The white films peeled off like a film from his eyes." (Tobit 11:11)

Tobit's Sight Restored

Raphael tells Tobias to run ahead with the fish gall; he will arrive before his wife and all her companions. Anna sees her son coming and cries: I can see you, my son. She runs to him. Tobit stumbles out and Tobias runs to him. Then he put the gall of the fish to his father's eyes, saying, 'Take courage, father.' The white films peeled off like a film from his eyes. His father saw his son and fell on his neck and wept and said, 'I see you, my son, the light of my eyes!' Then Tobit sees Sarah for the first time and blesses her: welcome, daughter; blessed is God who has brought you to us. The whole family rejoices for seven days.

The Catechism identifies the restoration of Tobit's sight as a type of the healing of spiritual blindness: the fish gall applied to the eyes as the means of sight restored through the mission of the angelic guide, anticipating the healing miracles of Christ (CCC 517).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, I see you, my son, the light of my eyes. The restoration of sight is not primarily a medical event but a relational one: the first thing Tobit sees clearly is his son. The healing God gives is always personal. The light that returns to the eyes is the light of the face of the one most loved. Let the restoration of any faculty in your life be received as the gift of seeing the faces of those you love.

Prayer

Lord God, peel away the white films from our spiritual eyes. Let the first thing we see clearly be your face and the faces of those you have given us to love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

11
1 And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day. 2 And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst leave thy father. 3 If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts. 4 And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed. 5 But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off. 6 And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh. 7 And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him. 8 And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee. 9 Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. 10 And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son. 11 And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy. 12 And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down together. 13 Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father’s eyes. 14 And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg. 15 And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and immediately he recovered his sight. 16 And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew them. 17 And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me: and behold I see Tobias my son. 18 And after seven days Sara his son’s wife, and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife’s: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus: 19 And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him. 20 And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had done for him. 21 And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.

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