Thursday, December 19, 2019
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25, Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17, Luke 1:5-25
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121919.cfm
FORGOTTEN PRAYER?
"Do not be frightened, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard." -Luke 1:13
St. Luke's gospel text gives us several clues to Zechariah's background. Zechariah and Elizabeth were advancing in age. Elizabeth was past the age of bearing children (Lk 1:18, 36). Apparently, some years before, Zechariah had prayed for children; hence, the angel says: "Your prayer has been heard" (Lk 1:13). Zechariah's startled and skeptical reaction indicates that he probably had forgotten about this prayer and perhaps hadn't prayed for a child in quite a few years.
Sometimes we Christians assume that prayer has a kind of spiritual statute of limitations; that if God hasn't answered our prayers in what seems to us a "reasonable" amount of time, then He has forgotten our prayer and therefore the prayer no longer is valid. However, the angel tells Zechariah, "Your prayer has been heard" (Lk 1:13). As the angel says: "They will all come true in due season" (Lk 1:20).
Have you prayed for something for a time, then stopped praying because it seemed to you that God wasn't listening? Take the angel's advice: "Silence ... in the presence of the Lord!" (Zec 2:17) Be still and know that He is God (see Ps 46:10, JB).
Prayer: Pray to the Father a seemingly unanswered prayer which you haven't prayed for years.
Promise: "In these days the Lord is acting on my behalf." -Lk 1:25
Praise: "O Flower of Jesse's stem, You have been raised up as a Sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid."
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (Is your family ready for Christmas? Order, view or download our leaflet, "Healing the Family Tree," on our website.)
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?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 2, 2019
The "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the "Nihil Obstat" agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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