He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Luke 1:63-64

Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed with a fine son who would proclaim the coming of the Lord. Imagine them today and Elizabeth aborting this gift from God. Then we would not have had a prophet to send us the message of His coming.

It shows us that life is precious, not only that but all that is formed in the womb has a purpose in life by the hand of God. Zechariah, because he doubted the angel Gabriel and the message given to him about his pending fatherhood at his great age, was silenced until the allotted time when all would be fulfilled.
Children are gifts from God, and we silence those future voices, by removing them from our lives. Woe to us for our sinfulness. Because we strive for perfection in what we give birth to, we kill. God seeks perfection in us but not at this price.

Like Zechariah, may our voices be heard again. And the Glory of God praised for all to hear. So all may know the Truth of God's Word.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. John 19:35-37

And that we do, we look up at the cross and see the pierced side of Our Lord. How his most Sacred Heart bleed to redeem us. Scripture was fulfilled by the shedding of his water and blood. And why is it we have a hard time believing in the Word of God, when it has been fulfilled. Don't we realize the depths God goes to; to give us the Truth. And he does in so many ways by revealing to many what scripture already has written by enforcing His Word in a most profound way.
Sometimes we don't always realize the significance of His Word, much less realize the love Jesus had for us to sacrifice himself. That is love for a Father who created all. That is love for us whom he created.

While claiming to be wise, they became fools
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural,
and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.
They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. They are gossips
and scandalmongers and they hate God. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents.
They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Although they know the just decree of God that all who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:22-32

If this is not wrong then why is it written by God for us to heed through the apostle Paul. Since I was directed to read this, by another, then also by divine guidance to the same, it merited writing about. This is for all to discern, since it is written that God is our judge, and knows right from wrong better than we do.

Jesus said to his disciples:

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'

"If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus gave us a perfect prayer. A prayer that praises God first (most important part).

Jesus shows us it's important to first of all praise God in our prayers, then to ask for our needs. But he also asks us to pray for the sins we have to ask to be forgiven them. To forgive others. In this prayer we are to ask to not be led into temptation, but to be delivered from evil.

This is a highly misused prayer, we say it so fast, without realizing how mocking we have become. Because the first part truly does honor God. And when we routinely offer this prayer anytime of day it's done in a no nonsense fashion, without thought. And to think this is the one genuine prayer of Jesus in the Word of God to show us how to pray.

Just like Jesus goes on to say after, if you forgive others your Father will forgive you. That includes yourself, because if you forgive others and not yourself then you hold back God's forgiveness. Next time we do an Our Father, think first of honoring God, it is a third of the prayer. God comes first and foremost. Then the prayer to Our Father will be more beautiful to say.

Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites.

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. Matthew 6:1,2,5,16

Jesus gives us a lesson on how to give from the heart, rather than doing it for show. The same can be said about prayer. Jesus knows exactly what we do and don't do. He knows when we do it for show, to be seen and looked upon by others as a giver, as a prayer.

When we gather, and do things such as a procession, we pray, but we are doing it for prayer, not for show or recognition. Today we have many gatherings, for many things, but when we are together is it done for show, to be seen that we are there for righteous sake, or doing it for the Lord in the spirit of piety.

The same with almsgiving, is it done for the Lord or for recognition. Do we blow our own trumpets and tell others we give more than them. What purpose do we do it for. God knows what we do. He knows what we have and do not have. And then there are some who will criticize because some do not give enough of what they have for the offering basket.
No one knows except the ones who count the money. Or the the one's who puts it in the tally books. They do not know the circumstances of the giver and to judge what they do is not their place. God knows what we do and give and He judges us accordingly.