Welcome to this Lectio Divina meditation on Psalm 10.
And as we begin,
I invite you to come to stillness.
Taking a breath,
A pause.
And as you do,
Allowing your body to sink,
To be held and supported.
Becoming the opportunity to let go.
To let go of the day so far.
To let go for now of anything that's troubling you or causing distress.
Letting the burdens fall away and receiving the grace to be present here and now.
Know that God,
Holy Spirit,
Is fully present to you,
Attentive,
Knowing,
Understanding.
And holding you in tender,
Loving care.
Receive the love and the care that you need as we enter into this reading.
So as we come to Psalm 10,
On this first reading,
Simply invite the words to come as rain falling gently over you,
Without attaching to any in particular.
Why do you seem so far from me,
O silent one?
Where do you hide when fears beset me?
I boast and strike out against those weaker than myself.
Even knowing I shall be caught in a snare of my own making.
When I feel insecure,
I look for pleasure.
Greed grips my heart and I banish you from my life.
In my pride I seek you not.
I come to believe I am the creator of my world.
I even prosper at times.
Your love seems too great for me,
Out of my reach.
As for my fears,
I pretend they do not exist.
I think in my heart,
I do not need you.
Adversity will come only to others.
My eyes watch carefully for another's weakness.
I wait in secret like a spider in its web.
I wait that I might seize those who are weaker than myself.
Draw others into my web,
That I might use them to feel powerful.
Like me,
The fearful are crushed.
We fall by our own illusions.
Then we think in our heart,
I do not deserve love.
My beloved has forgotten me.
I am alone with my fears forever.
Awaken,
O love!
O you who created me,
Return to my side.
Forget me not in my weakness.
Why do I turn my back to you and say in my heart,
You will not take notice of me.
You do see me.
Yes,
You know my anguish and fears.
You make yourself known to me when I commit myself into your hands.
You are ever my strength and comforter.
Help me break the webs I have woven to seek out and forgive my illusions until you find not one.
For you are my beloved forever.
All that is separate from you will disappear through love.
O my beloved,
You hear my heart.
Strengthen me and answer my soul's cry.
May I live with integrity as a loving presence in the world.
May my will be one with your will.
On this second reading,
Notice any words or phrases that stand out to you,
That resonate with you.
Why do you seem so far from me,
O silent one?
Where do you hide when fears beset me?
I boast and strike out against those weaker than myself,
Even knowing I shall be caught in a snare of my own making.
When I feel insecure,
I look for pleasure.
Greed grips my heart and I banish you from my life.
In my pride I seek you not.
I come to believe I am the creator of my world.
I even prosper at times.
Your love seems too great for me out of my reach.
As for my fears,
I pretend they do not exist.
I think in my heart,
I do not need you.
Adversity will come only to others.
My eyes watch carefully for another's weakness.
I wait in secret like a spider in its web.
I wait that I might seize those who are weaker than myself.
Draw others into my web,
That I might use them to feel powerful.
Like me,
The fearful are crushed.
We fall by our own illusions.
Then we think in our heart,
I do not deserve love.
My beloved has forgotten me.
I am alone with my fears forever.
Awaken,
Oh love.
Oh you who created me,
Return to my side.
Forget me not in my weakness.
Why do I turn my back to you and say in my heart you will not take notice of me.
You do see me.
Yes,
You know my anguish and fears.
You make yourself known to me when I commit myself into your hands.
You are ever my strength and comforter.
Help me break the webs I have woven.
To seek out and forgive my illusions until you find not one.
For you are my beloved forever.
All that is separate from you will disappear through love.
Oh my beloved,
You hear my heart.
Turn me and answer my soul's cry.
May I live with integrity as a loving presence in the world.
May my will be one with your will.
And on this third and final reading,
Be present in a deeper way to any words or phrases that stood out to you.
What are they speaking to you?
What do they offer or invite?
How do they connect with your life at this time?
How are they bringing you what you need?
Why do you seem so far from me,
Oh silent one?
Where do you hide when fears beset me?
I boast and strike out against those weaker than myself.
Even knowing I shall be caught in a snare of my own making.
When I feel insecure,
I look for pleasure.
Greed grips my heart and I banish you from my life.
In my pride I seek you,
Not.
I come to believe I am the creator of my world.
I even prosper at times.
Your love seems too great for me out of my reach.
As for my fears,
I pretend they do not exist.
I think in my heart I do not need you.
Adversity will come only to others.
My eyes watch carefully for another's weakness.
I wait in secret like a spider in its web.
I wait that I might seize those who are weaker than myself.
Draw others into my web.
That I might use them to feel powerful.
Like me,
The fearful are crushed.
We fall by our own illusions.
Then we think in our heart,
I do not deserve love.
My beloved has forgotten me.
I am alone with my fears forever.
Awaken,
Oh love.
Oh you who created me,
Return to my side.
Forget me not in my weakness.
Why do I turn my back to you and say in my heart,
You will not take notice of me?
You do see me,
Yes,
You know my anguish and fears.
You make yourself known to me when I commit myself into your hands.
You are ever my strength and comforter.
Help me break the webs I have woven.
To seek out and forgive my illusions until you find not one.
For you are my beloved forever.
All that is separate from you will disappear through love.
Oh my beloved,
You hear my heart.
Strengthen me and answer my soul's cry.
May I live with integrity as a loving presence in the world.
May my will be one with your will.
I invite you to linger with these words a little longer.
Maybe to journal,
To let them speak and minister what you need.
To give to you what they are offering.
And I pray peace,
Grace and a knowing of God's tender loving presence towards you as you walk step by step through the journey of your life.
Amen.
.
