Acts 4:23-31 / John 3:1-8
In its most fundamental understanding, prayer is a relationship with God.
That relationship is expressed in a communion with God and also expressed in a form of communication with God.
That communication is understood in the sense that one party speaks and the other party listens and responds.
In the 1st reading, as soon as Peter and John were released, they went back to the community and told them what had happened.
When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God - they prayed together.
And God responded! Because as they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.
But that doesn't seem to be our prayer experience. We don't seem to get any dramatic responses.
There may be some subtle experiences but they may be far and few between. By and large, our prayer experiences are rather mundane and monotonous.
But before we start to get discouraged and feel despair, let us remember what Jesus told Nicodemus in the gospel.
The Holy Spirit responds to our prayer, and the Holy Spirit is like a wind that blows wherever it pleases.
Prayer will make us feel like the wind of the Holy Spirit. We only need to surrender and let the Holy Spirit lead us to where we should go and what we should do.