Filipino people in prayer

President Aquino has declared that Monday, Jan. 20 will be a National Day of Prayer and Solidarity with the theme “One Nation in Prayer.” It seems that the declaration was inspired by the events after the destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda.

According to Secretary Coloma the president cited the people’s resilience and unbreakable spirit which was evidenced after the typhoon. This spirit and courage is rooted in the Filipino people’s belief in a benevolent God and that we are “powerless without God.”

P-Noy is stating shared moral beliefs that has been part of what marks the Filipino “soul” anywhere in the world – a strong belief in prayer and miracles. The observation of a Day of Prayer is also a tradition in many countries. It is also evident that these Days of Prayer were motivated, to a certain extent, by national calamities and disastrous events that require us to ask for intercession from God.

Pope John Paul II organized the first World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assissi, Italy on Oct. 27, 1986. There were 160 religious leaders spending the day together with fasting and praying to their God. They represented 32 Christian religious organizations and 11 other non-Christian religions. In 1993, John Paul repeated the Day of Prayer for end to war in Bosnia which had become a religious conflict pitting Muslim Bosnians, Orthodox Serbians and Catholic Croatians against each other.

Last year, President Barack Obama and the US Congress declared the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. The proclamation enjoined Americans to remember those “affected by recent events such as the Boston Marathon bombing, Newtown Connecticut shootings and the explosion in West Texas.”  The proclamation also said: “Let us come together to pray for peace and goodwill today and in the days ahead as we work together to meet the great challenges of our time.”

In April 2011, in New Zealand, national church leaders agreed on a National Day of Prayer in light of recent disasters in Haiti, Japan and the destructive earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Their statement could very well be applicable to the Philippines suffering from the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda and the Bohol earthquakes. It said:

“Observing a National Day of Prayer will allow us to acknowledge the uncertainty of life for so many people. We want to offer the opportunity for people to use our sacred places where people may pray and be encouraged to intercede for those who have lost so much. We recognise that the deep loss and pain will continue into the future as families and communities grieve for loved ones and the loss of familiar communities...We are strengthened by the God who offers ultimate hope through the gift of resurrection and new beginnings.”

These Days of Prayers find their inspiration in the strong belief in the Power of Prayer and God’s intercessions. Another name for these intercessions is Miracle.

One of the most interesting articles on prayer was written by Alan Caruba of Canada. This is part of what he says:

“For someone who has not stepped into a house of worship for a very long time, except to attend the occasional funeral, it may seem inappropriate to be writing about prayer, but the fact is that I pray every day, if one means by prayer a brief conversation with God. For me prayer has always been a great solace, a confirmation of my belief that there is, indeed, a greater power. I take this on faith, but so does everyone, other than atheists. ... Prayer puts me at one with the Universe. It is a defence against the perversity of ill fortune and an aid to overcoming it.

My thought here is not about religion per se, but the power of prayer in a person’s life. I believe it acts as a guide and underlies what courage we can muster to deal with life’s challenges. I believe it brings solace to the troubled heart.”

Miracles have also been referred to as the presence of God in our lives. This word “miracle” has been used to describe many types of events but there are many arguments on what constitutes a miracle. And yet surveys anywhere in the world reflect the overwhelming belief of people, of all the different religions, in miracles.

Many different writers have asked the same question at different times – do you believe in miracles? This has been a question asked since the Genesis or the creation of Adam and Eve.

It does not have to be the parting of a sea, or turning a few loaves into food for a multitude or seeing an apparition of the Virgin Mary. This is a question asked a when a child survives a raging flood or a dying patient recovers without the aid of modern medicine, or simply when a student passes an exam after giving up hope.

And even more profoundly, we tell ourselves that the Universe exists and we are here and alive. Are all these things that we are seeing the work of God? “Are we not witnessing the Miracles of God?
Filipinos have always turned to prayer in times of joy like in “Simbang Gabi,” called all over the world as a Filipino Christmas tradition. In times of sorrow, in funerals, wakes or in the midst of havoc, it is prayers that bring family and friends together.

As we come together in a National Day of Prayer, let us all hope our collective prayers will again be a reaffirmation and reassurance that we have a common purpose and  shared moral values that unite us as a people.

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