The Name of God is Truth

Today's reading I pass on to you is from the Vedas, the most ancient of India's sacred scriptures, said to have been composed over several centuries a thousand or more years before the Christian era began.

Hindus believe the sages who received and recited and wrote them were divinely inspired.

One of the most famous of these Vedas is the Rig Veda. The word "rig" refers to a priest's chant during worship. This reading is from Rid Veda 8, and is titled "The God of Truth." It is interesting that Gandhi famously once said "The Name of God is Truth." One wonders if he might have had the words of this reading in mind.

If you try to grab the God of Truth with your little mind, God will slip away from you.

If you try to control your life, you will find out that it is God alone who controls everything.

God possesses all the wisdom of the wise and all the visions of the poets, and is their Source.

God gives clothes to the naked and heals the sick.

Through God, the blind see, and the lame walk.

God defends those who are persecuted.

By intelligence and skill, God drives away evil.

Those who seek earnestly will find the God of Truth.

God is generous to those who are generous to others, but the greedy never get all they want.

Those searching for ancient knowledge that has been lost, find it.

God guides and encourages all who seek to penetrate Divine mysteries,

and stretches out their span of life.

Here is my prayer of response.

God of Truth,

I know I can grasp only a little of the great Truth that You are.

Still, I long to know as much of Your Truth as my little mind can comprehend.

For Your Truth is the dazzling Light that dispels the shadows of illusion

in all minds and hearts.

It shines in ancient knowledge given by You to sages and saints the world over.

I seek this Light of Truth wherever it may be found,

and want to walk in the Light You have given,

that I may not stumble and fall into falsehood.

I am grateful for Your kindness and mercy to the afflicted, the sick, and the persecuted.

I thank You for Your goodness to me,

guiding me and encouraging me as I seek Your Truth

above all,

Amen.