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Thursday, December 19, 2019

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Judges 13:2-7, 24-25
Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17
Luke 1:5-25

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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."

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 2, 2019

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