Hello and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 103 and I invite you to arrive and settle into your space to find yourself here in this moment gathered in to the place of rest and stillness.
Right now there is nothing to be fixed or solved,
Nothing to be tended to apart from your own beautiful heart and life.
Take some deeper wider breaths and receive softening into your body.
Receive gentleness,
Letting go and welcoming these moments of peace and stillness.
I'm going to read the psalm all the way through once and then focus in on some verses twice more.
So here is the first reading of Psalm 103.
Bless the beloved,
O my soul,
And all that is within me.
I bless your holy name.
Bless the beloved,
O my soul,
And remember the goodness of love.
You forgive our stubbornness.
You heal our disease.
You save us from the snares of fear.
You crown us with steadfast love and mercy.
You satisfy our every need and renew our spirit like the eagles.
Through you comes peace and justice for all who are oppressed.
You make known the pathway of truth and guide us on the way.
You are merciful and gracious,
Quelling our anger with your patient love.
You love us more than we can ask or imagine.
In truth we belong to you,
For you understand us,
Requiting us not according to our ignorance and error.
As far as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is your loving response toward those who are humble.
So far does your enduring strength uphold those who face the darkness within.
As parents are concerned for their children,
So you come to those who reach out in faith.
For our ways are known,
Our weakness is seen with compassion.
As for humanity,
Our days are like the grass.
We flourish like a flower of the field.
When the wind passes over,
It is gone and that place knows it no more.
Yes,
The steadfast love of the beloved is from everlasting to everlasting to those who awaken and justice to all generations,
To those who remember your promises and follow your voice.
The beloved's home is in our hearts as we discover in silence.
Bless the beloved,
O you angels,
You faith-filled ones who hear the word,
Following the voice of love.
Bless the beloved,
All you people,
Those who abandon themselves into love's hands.
Praise the beloved,
Praise all of creation,
Praise the beloved,
O my soul.
So as you let those words arrive in your soul and your heart,
Know that you can return to the wholesome at any point to rediscover the richness of what has been spoken.
And now on this next reading,
Returning to a few of the verses,
Noticing any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Through you comes peace and justice for all who are oppressed.
You make known the pathway of truth and guide us on the way.
You are merciful and gracious,
Quelling our anger with your patient love.
You love us more than we can ask or imagine.
In truth,
We belong to you.
As I read those words one last time,
Welcome the gift of the phrases or words that captured your attention.
May they find a resting place in you so that they can continue to offer their blessing and their hope,
Their encouragement,
Even as you leave this time.
Notice how they make you feel.
Notice any response that rises up within you as you hear them.
Through you comes peace and justice for all who are oppressed.
You make known the pathway of truth and guide us on the way.
You are merciful and gracious,
Quelling our anger with your patient love.
You love us more than we can ask or imagine.
In truth,
We belong to you.
May these words bring you comfort and peace,
Especially in these turbulent times.
May you know yourself tenderly and gently loved.
May you know yourself accompanied by the beloved.
Go gently and softly,
My friends.
Amen.
