Your word, O God, a living sword, reveals within each heart the love of self, the hidden fears, that keep us far apart; we seek to stand by our own strength but fail and fall alone, and still we find ourselves afraid to know as we are known. Your word, O God, a living sword, cuts deep, and there it find the wall we build in self defense that blocks our sight and blinds; we cannot see our neighbor's needs above the walls and bars that we have made to save ourselves , and they cannot see ours. Your word, O God, a living sword, strikes deep within each soul and opens up the path by which you come to make us whole; and with your love set deep within we need not stand along, for love drives out our faithless fears and makes your people one.