Isn't it striking that after the ascension the disciples return to Jerusalem and devote themselves with one accord to prayer? They don't immediately go about proclaiming Christ. They don't immediately start baptizing. They don't immediately start arguing about who is to do what where and how. They gather together to pray and await the descent of the Holy Spirit.

In the gospel Jesus tells us that eternal life is knowing God by knowing Jesus. How can we know Jesus except by reading sacred scripture and through prayer? There are probably very few of us who could not use a little extra prayer in our lives.

Praying is not always easy. Some people may have a natural gift for prayer and may be a spiritual athlete but most of us learn to pray like we learn most things: through practice and repetition. All of us can learn how to pray, can develop habits of prayer, if we are willing to put in the time and effort required to learn how to pray and enter into a relationship with God.

All four gospels recount Jesus making time to pray alone. He also went to the synagogue and the temple to pray with his community. In today's passage and in other passages we see him praying with his family or friends. Like our model, Jesus, we need to pray privately, in the Church and with those closest to us so we can receive the Spirit and carry on the mission of Jesus entrusted to us.