On Sunday, August 22, 1999, four people joined together for our prayer vigil in front of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. At the same time, Jorge and another man held the vigil in Quito, Ecuador, and Kaki Sjogren maintained the vigil while standing on the side of a mountain in the Poconos. We were joined in prayer during that hour by many others in various locations.
I, Marcelle, again felt a strong sense of Divine presence and energy during the vigil. I've felt this Presence many times at these vigils, but it has seemed more strong in recent weeks. I have a sense of being prayed through, almost as though being present there and focusing on peace for the whole world enables God to do something in or through me that doesn't happen in the same way anywhere else; it is different from meeting for worship with my monthly meeting.
At the Liberty Bell, many passers-by stopped to ask questions and take our literature. Jonathan Sank held a sign with a variation on Matt. 13:47 that read, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net ... it brings together all kinds." As I was writing this report, I looked up Matthew 13:47 and found that it's part of a series of three parables about the kingdom of heaven. In the first parable, a man finds treasure hidden in a field, then sells everything he owns in order to buy the field. In the second parable, a merchant finds a pearl of great price and sells all that he had to buy it. In the third parable, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that catches many kinds of fish. Fishermen then sort through the catch, keeping the good fish and discarding the bad ones. These parables are about discerning the difference between what is of God and what is not, and they are about making a choice to give up everything — absolutely everything — that is not the treasure in the field, the pearl of great price, or a good fish.
On the field of Independence Mall facing Market Street — a busy thoroughfare where tourists and city residents walk, where buses and trucks pass bearing advertisements for many things — I have discovered a hidden treasure while praying for peace in the world. This hidden treasure is God's Love. God is constantly sending waves of love and peace to the earth, and as I have stood praying week after week in all weather, I have felt a slow transformation of my heart to become a more open channel for the peace that God sends to humanity and the earth. I believe that the Spirit is doing this same work in the hearts of others who participate at the vigils, though everyone may experience it in different ways. I have sometimes felt our silent public prayer emanates something real, though hidden, that affects passers-by and the world. It seems to me that those who are most open to this are not the adults with cameras, but the children, who look at us with their big eyes and ask their parents: "What are they doing?" They mouth the words of our signs in wonder. Our vigil exposes them to an alternative way of being in this world, an alternative to advertisements, passing amusements, and bored acceptance of the status quo. I believe that if our vigil opens one heart to experience God's love, God's peace, God's way, that is a pearl of great price and worth infinitely more than the interest or amusement of tourists for whom we are just another passing curiosity.
Standing next to the Liberty Bell has placed us in closer proximity with tourists, and this is challenging our ability to maintain our focus on prayer while at the same time being available to respond to questions. In the coming weeks, we will be considering how to clarify the focus of our vigils so that we are united in what we do and can respond to people while maintaining prayerfulness in the group. Your prayers and thoughts about this are welcome. [This is the end of Marcelle's report.]
Here is Jorge's report from Quito, Ecuador:
On Sunday afternoon, having just finished a workshop of the Alternatives to Violence Project, Level I, I headed for our prayer vigil. I added two words to my sign: y Practicalas. It read: Pray for Peace and Justice in your heart and the world, and Practice Them. I was thus answering to the criticism of the old man two weeks ago, who urged us to work for peace and justice.
The Plaza Grande was crowded as always, maybe more than usual, in that warm afternoon. I was praying alone, when Patricio, the man of poverty who had joined us two Sundays before, came over. He shook my hand, visibly happy that he had fulfilled his promise to come again. He shared with excitement that his prayer had been answered: he had found employment! He showed me his hands, with some residues of paint in them. He asked to be instructed again on how to pray, still marvelling at the possibility of silent prayer. He offered a prayer of thankfulness, asking for employment and daily bread for all those poor people around the park. He also prayed for wisdom, so that he would be able to teach people that God is real, that we need to take care of our spirit. After some silence, he asked more questions, some filled with aguish and doubt. I live among murderers, thieves and gossippers, he said. How can I keep going? He wanted God's protection; his prayer was fraught with fear. We talked about faith and love for our enemies. At one point, after some silence, he exclaimed with joy: "You told me last time that God is within me!" He acknowledged how much he needs to pray regularly. At times I felt that he was distracting me from praying. Looking in his eyes, however, sensing his heartfelt search, I felt that he was praying while sharing his joy and his pain, and that I was praying by listening. Then, as I moved back into silence, I carried in me his struggle, bringing it into the Light... At least twice I felt moved to pray aloud, echoing his concerns.
To our left, as it was two weeks ago, some people sang, read the Bible and preached about Jesus' saving death and resurrection. This time, to our right, another group chanted hymns to Krishna, drummed, jingled bells, and danced, with one person preaching and inviting onlookers to attend a gathering that included a vegetarian dinner. (Patricio recognized them, for he attends their meetings. He seemed a little embarrassed to be seen standing in prayer with somebody else. Still, he stood his ground, and only followed them after the hour was over.)
A person with a Bible in his hand, apparently a leader of the group praising Jesus, came by, read our sign, smiled and clapped his hands with encouragement. He asked if he could have another sign like ours, but declined to join us in prayer. By the end of the hour the place got dark with clouds, thunders and rain, and everybody rushed away, leaving the square empty. The man with the Bible came back to encourage me to leave, warning me that the sign may get damaged. Two Indian women from his group said affectionately goodby, as they rushed away. I could not leave, entranced with the bliss of our time of communal prayer, the greatness of creation, and awe.
Somehow, nature seemed to reflect in the sky the storm afflicting the land, present all the while throughout our prayer vigil, the storm of unemployment and hunger, confusion and fear. People seeking protection from the dark, thundering, rainy clouds moving ominously over the sky — would they, would we, escape the injustice, huge debt and strife afflicting the land? The threat of getting entangled, with US leadership, in the bloody civil war tearing down our neighbor, Colombia, is looming on the horizon.
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.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM