Psalm 79: A Lectio Divina

Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 79 and as we arrive together I invite you to settle and become comfortable gently welcoming the grace for an open heart to receive these words slowly beginning to connect with your breath and your body letting the thinking mind dial down as you settle into yourself maybe with intention letting the day fall away and simply being here in this moment in this enough-ness remembering that you're loved that the beloved joins you here that goodness and kindness and grace are your companions in this moment and always I'm going to read the whole Psalm just once and then return to some verses Oh merciful presence the ignorant seem unrestrained in the world they defile the sacred altar your dwelling place within they leave those weaker than themselves in ruins chaos and destruction follow them as they oppress the poor through deception and greed and kill the faith-filled who resist yes they have poured out their blood like water throughout the world many have disappeared without a trace how long will the unjust bring anguish to the loving to those who seek justice and peace how long Oh indwelling presence will your patience last forever when will you awaken our long dormant spirits pour out your love on every nation open the hearts of all people we await a new birth of consciousness we call upon your name for the ignorant and unloving are laying waste to the planet forgive us for the misuse and abuse of your creation humble us with your steadfast before the world becomes a barren waste help us Oh compassionate one to renew the face of the earth deliver us and forgive our sins that we might know the joy of co-creation let other nations not cry out where is their faith let all who have spilled the blood of the innocent repent and make reparation before the eyes of the world let the cries of the victims of injustice come before you according to your great power break the bonds of oppression let all that has been garnered through greed be returned in full measure with open hands then we your people those who would companion with you will give thanks to you forever from generation to generation we will abandon ourselves into your hands with grace-filled open hearts I'm going to return now to a few verses and read them three times so this first reading just let the words come and notice as a whole how they make you feel how you respond to them forgive us for the misuse and abuse of your creation humble us with your steadfast love before the world becomes a barren waste help us Oh compassionate one to renew the face of the earth deliver us and forgive our sins that we might know the joy of co-creation on this second reading notice any words or phrases that capture your attention forgive us for the misuse and abuse of your creation humble us with your steadfast love before the world becomes a barren waste help us Oh compassionate one to renew the face of the earth deliver us and forgive our sins that we might know the joy of co-creation and on this last and final reading let those words and phrases settle within you and begin to unfold bringing the depth of their gift notice how you want to respond to them what they're offering what they're inviting how they make you feel do they elicit a response that's action or that surrender or that's trust continue to welcome those words or phrases to bring their gift forgive us for the misuse and abuse of your creation humble us with your steadfast love before the world becomes a barren waste help us Oh compassionate one to renew the face of the earth deliver us and forgive our sins that we might know the joy of co-creation be blessed friends go in peace and I look forward to connecting again next time amen