Hi friends,
This is Sue,
And welcome to this week's guided Lectio Divina practice,
Rooted in the Gospel of Thomas.
Now,
Remember,
In this practice we are not analyzing the text we hear.
Instead,
We are allowing it to speak to us,
To take root in our hearts,
To see how the divine is moving in us and speaking to us,
That new arisings might emerge in our lives.
So,
Let's begin by settling into a gentle stillness.
Feel the breath moves through you,
Just grounding you in this moment.
Breathe in deeply,
And exhale fully.
Just close your eyes and rest in the quiet.
Just set the stage and allow the mystery of the sacred to open before you.
Trust that you are filled in love,
Even as you journey into the unknown.
And in this space of stillness,
Of receptivity,
Of rooted groundedness,
Let us take in today's passage,
And enter into its wisdom and spirit together.
Yeshua said,
Blessed is the lion that's eaten by a human and then becomes human.
But,
How awful for the human who's eaten by a lion,
And the lion becomes human.
Blessed is the lion that's eaten by a human and then becomes human.
But,
How awful for the human who's eaten by a lion,
And the lion becomes human.
As the words flow through you,
Notice which images or phrases catch your attention.
Let them speak directly to your heart,
Without rushing to understand or explain.
Feel the raw energy in the imagery,
A lion,
A human,
A moment of transformation.
What stirs in you as these words settle?
Let the phrases breathe in the silence.
Just allow yourself to sit in the presence of the mystery these words evoke.
Now,
Reflect deeply on the images.
Blessed is the lion that's eaten by a human and then becomes human.
The lion is powerful,
Untamed,
Primal.
To eat the lion is to integrate its strength,
Its wildness,
Into your own being.
It's an act of transformation,
Where the raw and instinctual parts of ourselves are embraced and transformed into something more.
What is the lion within you?
Where is the wild,
Fierce energy that calls out to be integrated into your human journey,
Into your very being?
This is not about conquering the lion,
But about honoring its power,
Bringing its sacred strength into your heart,
So that it might become human.
So that it might serve your highest self,
Rather than overpower you.
What wild force within you is ready to be blessed,
To be transformed?
What must you integrate to become more whole?
And in the second part of the passage we read,
How awful for the human who's eaten by a lion.
And the lion becomes human.
What happens when the primal force consumes you?
When the lion takes over?
Here the image shifts.
The human is devoured by the lion,
And in being eaten,
The human is diminished.
This speaks of being overtaken by instincts,
By fear,
By anger,
By the parts of ourselves we do not hold consciously.
Where have you felt this in your life?
When have you been consumed by these forces?
Perhaps grasping for control,
For security,
For esteem,
Leaving your true self in the shadows.
Just reflect on these moments of feeling consumed.
Where is the invitation now to reclaim your balance?
Stand in your full humanity.
Let your heart respond to these reflections.
What's calling to you?
Do you feel called to offer a prayer for the courage to face your inner lion?
To embrace its power rather than fear it?
Or maybe you feel called to ask for the strength and resist being consumed by your instincts.
To find a way of integrating them without losing yourself.
Speak from the depths of your being,
Whether in words,
In silence,
Or in an open offering of your heart.
This is your conversation with the divine.
Just let it flow from where you are right now.
And finally,
Enter into silence.
There is no need to hold on to the words now.
Just let them fall away and simply rest in the quiet presence of the mystery they've opened within you.
In this stillness,
Just imagine the lion and the human both finding peace within you.
Feel the integration of your wild and gentle natures.
Harmony of instinct and reason.
Blending of power and compassion.
There is no battle to be fought here,
Only a deep resting in wholeness.
All parts of yourself are honored and held together in love.
And I invite you to stay in this space of union and peace for as long as you need.
Just resting in the presence of the sacred within you.
