St. Luke's Gospel text gives us several clues to Zechariah's background. Sts. Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced 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). The angel assured Zechariah that his words will "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? Put aside all skepticism and doubt. Lift up your prayer again to the Lord. "Silence...in the presence of the Lord!" (Zec 2:17) Be still and know that He is God (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE).
| PRAYER: | Pray to the Father a seemingly unanswered prayer which you haven't prayed in 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." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College