Written by Arthur Lai
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance designated by the United States Congress and held on the first Thursday of May. By law (36 U.S.C. § 119), the President must sign a yearly proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray on this day and inviting people to “pray and meditate” together. The theme of 2024’s National Day of Prayer was “Lift Up the Word – Light Up the World,” which is from 2 Samuel 22:29-31 in the Bible and aims to remind people of the power of faith and collective prayer to guide and inspire society toward greater harmony, respect, and tolerance.
On May 2, the National Day of Prayer in 2024, the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters Region’s Phoenix Service Center in Arizona, by invitation, participated in a large-scale interfaith prayer event in Mesa, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also referred to as the Mormon Church, has a significant presence. The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Mesa and featured City of Mesa Mayor John Giles.
Andy Cheung, Deputy Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Phoenix Service Center, led Tzu Chi’s Buddhist presence at the event, where Tzu Chi representatives, alongside those from different religious backgrounds, including Christian, Jewish, and Islamic, prayed together. All religious groups echoed each other’s voices and prayed for peace in the world.
Praying for Those in Need and the Earth
The weather was splendid on the evening of May 2. On this beautiful night, the steeple of the First Presbyterian Church of Mesa was illuminated by the light of the Cross, symbolizing the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This light illuminated the outside of the church and brought hope and light to the people inside, who were waiting patiently for the prayer session to begin.
As the bell rang at 7:00 PM, the event organizer, Delynn Bodine, Communication Director for the Mesa Arizona West Coordinating Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took the stage. She thanked people from different religious organizations for coming together to pray for those in need and the Earth, saying: “I’m sure they’ll be happy to know that we’re from different faiths, and we’re coming together to pray together… (we) pray for those in need, (we) pray for our country…”
Andy Cheung, Deputy Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Phoenix Service Center, representing Buddhism, took the stage and said, “We pray for wisdom to exercise good judgment. We pray for calmness and clarity to act rationally. We pray wholeheartedly to the compassionate Buddha that all of us may empathize and be accepted.”
While he was speaking, four Tzu Chi volunteers holding Lotus Heart Lanterns walked up to the stage and stood behind him. When Cheung put his hands together and said, “Please pray with us,” the Tzu Chi volunteers lit the lamps in their hands, whose glow represented the Buddha’s light of compassion and wisdom.
Andy Cheung then led the audience in prayer, saying, “In my heart, I am deeply grateful, and in my heart, I am filled with sincere prayers.” There was silence in the room as people prayed.
We pray for wisdom to exercise good judgment. We pray for calmness and clarity to act rationally.
All Rivers Flow to the Ocean
The prayer meeting also featured a speech by City of Mesa Mayor John Giles, who emphasized the power of faith and the importance of interfaith cooperation. Rev. Christian Johnson, Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Mesa, Rabbi Tracee Rosen of Temple Beth Sholom East Valley, and others took the stage individually and addressed all gathered. Everyone wrote a magnificent chapter of interfaith dialogue together.
Hans Küng, a Catholic theologian and priest who initiated the Global Ethic Project, drafted “The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic” of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and founded the Global Ethic Foundation once said: “There can be no peace among nations without peace among religions, and there can be no peace among religions without dialogue among religions.”
While Küng passed away in 2021, his vision was alive and well at this assembly on the National Day of Prayer, which provided an ideal platform for interfaith dialogue and demonstrated tolerance and respect among different faith groups. This kind of inter-religious gathering promotes community cohesion and helps overcome barriers between religions, promoting harmony and the joint pursuit of peace and tranquility in our tumultuous world. Tzu Chi representatives participating in the prayer assembly expressed their respect and support for this vision and mission by attending, lighting the Lotus Heart Lanterns, and leading prayers.
Master Cheng Yen once said, “True religion is like the ocean, and all the terms are like streams, rivers, streams, and ponds. Although there are differences between streams, rivers, and well water, the water is still water.” She put forward the analogy of “the ocean” many years ago.
Religions should not be differentiated from each other but should respect and praise each other; they should be like the ocean, no matter whether it is the water of a river, stream, or pond that flows into the sea, it can all be embraced, and this is the religion of the Righteous Religion.
Since all rivers merge in one ocean, Tzu Chi will continue to promote interfaith cooperation and enhance exchanges and dialogue among different religions. With understanding and tolerance, as Buddhists, Tzu Chi volunteers will set sail with people from other religious backgrounds, exploring the commonalities of the human mind and heart, embracing pluralistic beliefs, and working together to build a harmonious world.
