The following report was written by Dan Homan for the vigil held April 8th.
When I arrived at the vigil, I picked up the sign that says, "Rely on Truth and Love." It's been a favorite of mine and I often use it.
I made one myself, a while ago, that says, "God is Love," "Jesus is Lord," "...the truth shall set you free..." and "...blessed are the peacemakers...," with scriptural references for each. At the bottom I added, "You could look it up." Although I believe all of that is true, I've felt uncomfortable at times when I've used that sign, thinking I have little reason to believe I'm much of a peacemaker at all or even that I know much truth. I'm often troubled that I'm being "preachy" and/or "self-righteous," and at times maybe I am. I always feel comfortable holding the "Rely on Truth and Love" sign, because I believe that's what I'm at least trying to do.
The "Rely on Truth and Love" sign often brings to my mind a verse in Ephesians 4 which speaks of "...speaking the truth in love..." I looked up other verses which have both the words "truth" and "love" in them. Here are some I found:
PS 26:3 "...for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."
PS 40:11 "Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me."
PS 52:1 "Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? [2] Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. [3] You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah"
ZEC 8:18 "...love truth and peace.'"
1CO 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
1PE 1:22 "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
1JN 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
2JN 1:1 "...To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth — and not I only, but also all who know the truth — [2] because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:..."
2JN 1:3 "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love."
Later that evening, after we talked about a man who walked by and said to each of us, "Don't give up," someone mentioned that a woman had died who used to ride the el and walk around City Hall with a placard, admonishing passengers and passers-by. That reminded me of a song called, "We Work the Field of Souls" which sings of different ways in which some help spread the gospel. It speaks of some who work on foreign soil, some who pray alone, tearfully, in their rooms, and some who call out boldly to "people in the street" and "everyone they meet." Wow!! That's sure how I remember her!
... relying on truth and love ...
Dan
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
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Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM