The Book of Tobit, a beautiful story nestled within the Apocrypha, gives us just that kind of moment. It's a story filled with faith, healing, and a hidden angel in disguise.
We arrive at chapter 12. Tobit, who's been blind, has had his sight miraculously restored. His son, Tobiyyah, has returned safely from a long journey, and with a new wife, Sarah. And the faithful companion who guided Tobiyyah, a man named Azarias, is about to reveal his true identity.
Suddenly, Azarias speaks, and the air crackles with revelation: "Peace be unto you; fear not; bless the Lord for these great and wonderful things which he hath done unto you." It’s a moment of profound gratitude, a recognition of the divine hand in their lives. But then comes the kicker.
"Now as to myself," Azarias continues, "all the time I was with you ye saw me eat and drink, for so it appeared to your eyes, yet I did neither eat nor drink."
Can you imagine the shock? The man who shared their meals, their journey, their very lives, was not who they thought he was. He was an angel, a messenger of God. He only appeared to eat and drink. What a thought!
He then gives them a command, a task that echoes through time to us: "Now therefore write you all these things in a book, and it shall be for a witness between you and your God all the days of your lives, and this thing shall be for a sign and a witness amongst all generations." This isn't just a story for them, or even just for their time. It's a story meant to be shared, a testament to God's unwavering presence and intervention in our lives.
"And bless the Lord, and praise the remembrance of his holiness," he urges. The angel, now revealed as Raphael—yes, that Raphael—is about to depart. His mission is complete.
"And now let me go, and I will go to the God who sent me to you." With those words, they send him away, their hearts overflowing with gratitude. "So they sent him away, and blessed the Lord for all this. And the angel of the Lord went up to heaven, and appeared no more to Tobi and his son Tobiyyah."
Just like that, he's gone. Vanished into the heavens, leaving behind a family forever changed by his presence.
What does this brief passage, this incredible moment, leave us with? It's a reminder that sometimes, just sometimes, the divine walks among us in disguise. It encourages us to look closer, to be grateful for the help we receive, and to remember that even in our darkest moments, we might be closer to the miraculous than we think.
And perhaps most importantly, it's a call to share our stories, to write them down, to pass them on, so that future generations can also witness the enduring power of faith and the unwavering love of God. Because who knows? Maybe, just maybe, an angel walked with you today, too.