I recently listened to a full choral and symphonic performance of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. As usual, it moved this former conscientious objector to tears.
"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword.
His truth is marching on."
This is clearly a Christian hymn:
"As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free."
Relatively few people die in the physical struggle for freedom, justice, and peace. But it takes nothing away from the due honor and glory of those who do for us to honor, thank and support those who dedicate their natural lives to the achievement and preservation of freedom, justice, and peace.
And so today I think the first stanza of The Battle Hymn of the Republic may with all respect be re-framed, rephrased:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the presence of the Lord.
He still tramples out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath given us the power of Love's self-sustaining word.
His truth still marches on.
