A story is told about a humble lady, Agnes, who had a strong faith and was dedicated to a vibrant prayer life. Daily, she wakes up and goes to the river, where she sits, closes her eyes, meditates, and expresses her fears, gratitude, and hopes to God. There she sought divine guidance and comfort. Her neighbours wondered why she spent a considerable time praying alone. They asked her, “What is the value of your personal prayer in your life?” She responded by saying, “Personal prayer is like a seed planted in the soil of our hearts. Over time, this seed grows and becomes a mighty tree that provides fruits not only for the one who planted it but for the neighbours as well.” One year, there was a drought in the village, which affected the crops and rendered the streams dry. The people in the village were desperately searching for a solution to the dry, weary land. Agnes suggested it was time to come together to pray for the collective need of the people. The people in the town agreed to have a 30-day prayer to ask for rain. They began the prayers, and in the second week, the faith of those who expected instant answers to the prayer began to wane. Only a few continued with the community prayer. Towards the end of the stipulated prayer period, the clouds gathered, and there was a heavy downpour of rain. Jubilation and celebration followed. They saw the power of collective prayer and observed how productive commitment to prayer can be.
We relate to God through prayer, which can be personal or communal. A typical example of personal prayer is found in John 17, where Jesus offers a lengthy prayer to God. A good example of communal prayer is when the Disciples of Jesus gathered in the Upper Room to wait and pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts of the Apostles 18:9-18).
There are times when we get so absorbed in our personal prayers that we find communal prayers less attractive; at other times, we get so absorbed in communal prayers that we forget that personal prayers are equally important. We can draw some insights from Jesus's personal prayer and his disciples' communal prayers.
Personal Prayer of Jesus
The prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John is known by various titles: ‘High Priestly or Sacerdotal Prayer,’ ‘Jesus’ Solemn Prayer,’ ‘Prayer of Christ’s Consecration or Offering,’ (referring to Jesus offering himself to death), ‘Jesus’ Intercessory Prayer,’ ‘Jesus’ Solemn Prayer.’ This John 17 prayer is also called ‘Prayer for Unity,’ or ‘Prayer of the Hour of Jesus.’ No matter what title this prayer is given, it is a personal prayer which Jesus offers to His loving Father. In the prayers, He speaks intimately to His loving Father. Noticeably, it was not a general prayer, but a prayer for a specific people with a special focus. After asking for His glorification, Jesus prayed especially for His flock: “I pray for them; I am not praying for the World but for the ones you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine and I am glorified in them” (John 17:9-11) This personal prayer of Jesus took place after the Last Supper, just before the death of Jesus.
Jesus teaches us the importance of personal prayer. He prayed constantly, He prayed personally (conversing with His Father), and He prayed communally (in union with others). Scripture commentator Vima Dasan distinguishes between the habits of prayer and the spirit of prayer. He says, “We will have the spirit of prayer if our prayer is turning of our minds and hearts to God, a heart-to-heart conversation with Him, an attitude of waiting and attending to Him, a personal relationship with Him which can be continuous even when we are engaged in other activities.” Even though Dasan does not explicitly define the habit of prayer, it is implied in his explanation of the spirit of prayer. It goes without saying that the habit of prayer is when prayer becomes a mere routine, when it turns into something mechanical rather than a heart-to-heart conversation with God.
Communal Prayer
After Jesus' ascension, the disciples returned from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem. They came together, prayed together and waited together for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Those who were in this group prayer were: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, John the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. The author of the Acts of the Apostles may have mentioned the names of those in the group prayer to show that all the Apostles were present, except Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. The author goes on to demonstrate that this prayer group was composed not solely of men but also of devoted women. The author only mentioned the most prominent woman in the group, Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Notably, this group consisted not just of men and women, but also of clerics (the Apostles) and lay people (the women and relations of Jesus). What is also significant in this gathering was that “With one accord they devoted themselves to prayers” (Acts of the Apostles 1:14).
When we gather for the Holy Mass or other liturgical prayers, we do so in order to worship God collectively in spirit and in truth. Jesus speaks strongly in favour of communal prayers: “If two of you agree on earth (one accord) about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20).
I observe that many families find it difficult to pray together, even when it is clear that praying together yields greater results. A Latin Proverb says Prayers travel faster when prayed in unison.
Conclusion
As we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost next Sunday, let us pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. May we receive the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, fortitude, counsel, piety and fear of the Lord. We earnestly ask the Spirit to come and empower us in our weakness, to open our eyes to see more clearly, our ears to listen more closely, to transform our minds and to enkindle our hearts to love him and our neighbours more dearly. May the Holy Spirit continue to renew and revive our drooping spirits.
7th Sunday of Easter, Year A; Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14; 1 Peter 4:13-16; John 17:1-11.