United in Prayer

"Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees." Cornelia “Corrie” ten Boom, Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazi’s during WWII (1892-1983)

It was 5:00 am in Krakow, Poland. As was his custom, Aaron Pokojowy arose early to begin his morning prayers. Ever since his people had been in exile, daily prayers (Avodah Sheba-Lev) had been a substitute for Temple sacrifices.

He recited a brief prayer as he rose from his bed; then another to announce his awakening to the Lord. “Like God doesn’t know I’m awake,” he mused. He liked to pray his Evening Prayer, but Morning Prayer was the best. It got him out the door on the right foot.

As he bathed Aaron recited another prayer. “I wash my body with soap and my soul with prayer,” he thought. Now came his favorite part; the three T’s (Tzitzi, Tallit and Tefillin). First he recited a blessing as he affixed the ritual fringe (tzitzi) to his prayer shawl (tallit); then a blessing while donning the prayer shawl. Finally, he took out two small leather boxes containing quotes from Hebrew scripture. In preparation, he prayed as he strapped the phylacteries or tefillin to his forehead.

Before leaving for synagogue; he spoke the Yetzer Hara: a prayer to help him overcome any evil inclination he might have during the day. Then out the door he went into the light of early morn.

It was 6:00 am in Chicago, Illinois. Sister Mary Elizabeth McNault sat in her room at the mother house of the Sisters of Mercy. A single candle illuminated the room. She was quietly reading Psalm 63: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you.”

She was praying the Divine Office also called The Christian Prayer. Though Morning and Evening Prayer were required of all clergy and those in religious orders, even before she entered the convent she had “prayed the Hours” Her Uncle Harry, a priest, had taught her how to “pray the Psalms” when she was twelve.

The intercessions for the day closed with, “Give us strength in temptation, endurance in trial, and gratitude in prosperity.” “AMEN,” she thought to herself. Concluding her prayers, Sister Mary Elizabeth quickly shrugged on her coat and headed out the door. She had to get the Mission Food Pantry open and ready.

It was 5:23 am in Cairo; time to perform Salah (“formal” or “obligatory prayer” in Islam). The large speakers erupted from the minarets announcing the prayer; “God is great,” the voice repeated four times. Abraam Fayium rolled out his prayer rug and knelt down in the street facing Mecca.

This was how he communicated with God. By reciting “The Opening” or the first chapter of the Qur’an Abraam placed himself in God’s presence; praising Him, and asking for guidance along the “Straight Path.”

The prayers also reminded him to give thanks for God’s blessings. By allowing his life to revolve around Allah, Abraam could more easily submit to His will, allowing Allah to take precedence over all other things in his life.

The speakers fell silent. Abraam finished his prayer then carefully rolled up his rug, returning it to his pack. There was much to do before the next call to prayer. He had melons to sell.

Sister Mary Elizabeth’s Morning Prayer (or The Divine Office) has its origins in ancient Hebrew customs. The same custom’s which Aaron Pokojowy follows. The early Jews, in addition to Morning and Evening Prayer, recited prayers at 9:00 am, 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm.We know this from the Book of Acts.

The early Christian Church adopted this form of prayer (Morning and Evening prayer as well as three daily prayers). Its basic structure, combining Psalms, prayers, canticles and readings, has remained fairly constant throughout our history.

Islam also has five daily prayers based on the time of day as prescribed by the location of the sun. Many scholars believe Muhammad adopted the form of the Divine Office for the five daily prayers of the Islamic faith from the Christian Monastic orders in his locale.

We often publicly decry individuals who profess a “my way or the highway” mode of thinking. This "I'm always right" thinking is, quite simply, narcissism. Sadly, this very characteristic, which we dislike in individuals, we often readily buy into as a group.

Group narcissism is dangerous. We readily profess our party, our country, our culture, our race or our religion got it right and every other one else is somehow misguided or inferior.

In other words, as a group, we all agree to tell ourselves the same lie. We agree our party is always right, our race is superior, our country is better, the other gender is inferior and our God is the God.

This approach is a slippery slope. Wisdom can never come from this kind of thinking, particularly when it comes to faith. Taking this path; proving our way is the right way, implies our religion is the only one God cares about. Therefore, we are the only people God loves.

Aaron, Sr. Mary Elizabeth and Abraam all participate in daily prayers. Daily, three of the principle religions of the world kneel down together to pray…at the same times…and in much the same way. The origins of our prayers have grown out of each other.

Is it not amazing, that even with a 2,000+ year history of strife and discord we all pray together; probably without realizing it? And, we pray for the same things: for God to make each of us a better person.

As stewards of the world we are called to find God’s identity in all people and we have a good starting point in our daily prayers.

Dear God: Today I pray with all my brothers and sisters.

“Are we not all children of the same God?” Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

© 2011 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

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