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Thursday, June 8, 2017

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Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17; 8:4-9
Psalm 128:1-5
Mark 12:28-34

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you'd think we'd pray

"I have given her in marriage to seven men, all of whom were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her." —Tobit 7:11

If you were marrying someone whose previous husbands all died on their wedding nights, what would you do? You'd think you'd pray, but obviously none of the dead husbands thought of that.

You'd think we'd pray at the time of death. However, this is an unprecedented time of death, when millions of babies are aborted surgically and chemically each year in our country alone. Yet how many Christians are praying that much?

You'd think we'd pray in time of war. Yet aren't we in the ultimate war between Christ and the anti-Christ, between the Gospel of life and the "culture of death"?

You'd think we'd pray when times get hard and the going gets tough. How hard does life have to be for us to pray? Isn't it hard enough?

You'd think we'd pray when Jesus, God Himself, commanded us to pray always (Lk 18:1). Let's obey Him and pray accordingly.

You'd think we'd pray, knowing we could go to heaven or go to hell, to Jesus or Satan...

Prayer:  Lord, teach me to pray (Lk 11:1) always (1Thes 5:17).

Promise:  "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength....You shall love your neighbor as yourself." —Mk 12:29-31

Praise:  Caroline now prays about the news rather than complaining.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Daily Prayers, order, listen to or download our CD 62-3 or DVD 62 on our website or order our tape on audio AV 62-3 or video V-62.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 22, 2017

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