At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit's eyes, so that he might again see God's sunlight; and to marry Raguel's daughter Sarah to Tobit's son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her. For Tobiah had the right to claim her before any other who might wish to marry her. In the very moment that Tobit returned from the courtyard to his house, Raguel's daughter Sarah came downstairs from her room. (Tobit 3:16-17)

A few months ago I heard about a survey regarding the efficacy of prayer. Participants who believed in God were asked, "Does God answer prayer?" Some significant minority responded in the negative.

When the researchers followed-up they found that most of those responding in the negative were especially troubled by the prospect of hundreds of millions - even billions - of simultaneous prayers.

I don't remember what I was listening to, but this led to an interesting discussion on the nature of quantum mechanics, zen notions of the now, and God being outside time. Probably not American Family Radio.

In Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis writes, "But suppose God is outside and above the Time-line. In that case what we call 'tomorrow' is visible to Him in just the same way as what we call 'today'. All the days are 'Now' for Him. He does not remember you doing things yesterday; He simply sees you doing them, because though you have lost yesterday; He has not. He does not 'foresee' you doing things tomorrow; He simply sees you doing them: because, though tomorrow is not yet there for you, it is for Him."

Tobit and Sarah are joined in God's now. Despite their prideful and narrow prayers, God hears and responds. The archangel Raphael, meaning God Heals, is sent to bind their wounds and to bring together those in need.

Above is the Archangel Raphael from the monastery at Balsmao (Portugal)