Dr. Agnes Thomas

A close friend once asked: could I write a reflection on prayer that resonates universally, encompassing individuals of diverse faiths or even those without any religious beliefs? In essence, they sought a contemplation on prayer that transcends conventional confines, delving into a realm of inclusivity and profound exploration. I assured them I would try. For this, I drew inspiration from an earlier ‘poem’ I had penned about prayer*.
Prayer is an interesting word and theme; it is synonymously used as a petition, intercession, devotion, etc. So how should we define prayer? Is it asking God or the deity you believe in to grant a request you are making, or is it reciting prayers out of your religious text or devotional books, singing hymns, or is it praying the rosary? It is all that and more depending on where you are in life and where you are in your spiritual journey and commitment.
For this reflection, I am drawing from my journey and the moments I feel I am praying or in my spiritual space. When I was a young child, my mother told me, that I could talk to Jesus anytime and anywhere I wanted, and He was always listening. This was good for me as I found the repetitive nature of prayer challenging to follow and find meaning in sometimes. So, I started a conversation that continues to this day. Later, a wise elder told me that if I wanted to hear what God was telling me, I needed to quieten myself to hear God’s voice. I found the same in the scripture (Psalms, 46:10). That became the pillar to everything else I have understood or felt as prayers.
As a young adult learning different faith approaches and journeys illuminated my understanding and broadened the way I understood and approached the idea of prayer, especially during my time living with people with intellectual disabilities. One of the greatest lessons my friends with intellectual disabilities shared with me is their gift of welcoming and loving others without conditions. In a community with them, I discovered prayer also means welcoming the stranger without hesitation and offering a smile without expecting it back. The monks and missionaries I have met in rural parts of the country serving the fisher folks and tribal groups allowed me to see how prayer is faith in action and living in harmony with nature. One of the images I hold dearly in my heart is of a religious brother who spent much of his lifetime in a fishing village in Karnataka; there, his morning routine included getting up to watch the sunrise and singing. He held a steady gaze to marvel at the morning sky and the rising sun; an hour later was by the shore greeting the men and women on their way to that day’s catch and the hard labour. Another beautiful aspect of prayer I learned from my time there was how prayer is also sharing a blessing, a kind word, and a moment of quiet with the other without judgment or hurrying. There was stillness and love to everything that transpired between the villagers and the brother.
The privilege of walking alongside, learning from, and having community with these diverse souls imparted a truth: prayer is not a singular construct. It mirrors life itself—dynamic, metamorphic, an ongoing journey marked by gratitude. For those receptive to its essence, prayer surges boundlessly like a ceaseless river.
*Prayer
It is a ‘conversation’ between you and me
It is a ‘smile’ shared with a stranger.
It is the ‘time’ I take to gaze at the sky.
It is a ‘moment’ I feel moved by
The goodness of the other.
‘Loving’ someone difficult to love
Is my prayer unsaid and offered,
Loving someone ‘beautiful’ is
My prayer of Thanksgiving!
My prayer is all about love and about loving.
It is about choosing to love without judgment.
It is about ‘forgiveness and reconciliation.’
It is about giving and receiving.
It is about walking my road,
And living my truth.
It is the time of quietness
And a time I share with the other
It is a conversation ‘within’
It is the breaking of bread with friends and foes.
And it is my communion,
With all the living creation
It is solitude
It is the voice of the wind, the rain,
And the thunder.
And to conclude
My Prayer is
‘Living’ and not dying alive
Thank “You” for the gift of prayer!