“Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.” (Tob 12:6)
These are the words that the archangel Raphael spoke to Tobias and Sarah in the context of the healing he granted them on God’s behalf. They are the sacred words of one of the seven angels who present our prayers and good works before the Throne of the Most High. A faithful angel like St. Raphael would never question who sent him or who deserves all the glory. The humility of the angels is moving and attractive. It exudes a naturalness that—hopefully—we will all experience in eternity.
Until humility becomes our natural attitude, we must absorb and heed the angel’s exhortation in today’s passage. In this way we realize also the invitation of God our Father in the book of Madre Eugenia. By doing so, we will penetrate the reality of God and recognize each day what He does for us without ever faltering. This is how we come to know God more deeply. Each time we praise Him, our eyes open wider. As a result, we discover more and more of what we owe to our Father. His praise must never be silenced! Since God is infinite, the reasons to praise Him are endless. Here on Earth, we must bear witness to His works with our entire lives so that others may know His goodness.
Where are we now?
If we have begun thanking the Lord for His love each day, then we are already on the path that Archangel Raphael points out to us. This gratitude will not go unanswered—it will be presented to our Father as a good and just work. Something of the order God established has been restored. As we advance on the path of praising God, His kingdom will spread on Earth through our actions.