Hello friends,
Welcome to this Lectio Divina on the first part of Psalm 119.
And as you arrive into these words,
I invite you to settle,
To find a comfortable position.
To open your heart and your body and your spirit to receive these words maybe to let yourself take a few deeper wider breaths entering into a pause a moment of stillness and rest A moment to connect more deeply with the beloved,
With love,
With the divine mystery that sees you and knows you and has great compassion towards you.
I'm going to read this first part of Psalm 109 all the way through and then twice more focus in on a few verses.
Part 1 of Psalm 109 Be not silent,
O you whom I praise.
Many are the fears that envelop me.
Causing me to act without integrity.
I become boastful that others may not see me tremble,
And I speak ill even of my friends.
In return,
I become alienated from those who love me.
And from you to whom I pray.
Hear my plea,
O compassionate one.
In your mercy come to my aid.
You appoint an angel to watch over me.
To protect me as I face my fears.
As I meet temptation you strengthen me.
My faith and courage increase.
May the day dawn when I become like the eagle and soar to lofty heights.
May I break the fetters of fear and welcome peace into my heart.
May I grow in wisdom and abandon myself to you with radical trust.
And though I may suffer,
May I reach maturity of soul.
May I open myself to change,
To being guided by the Spirit.
May I risk the unknown and live into the mystery.
Awaken me to the holy,
The divinity of all creation.
O that I might honour the sacredness of all life.
May all the resentment and bitterness that live in me be transformed by your love.
Help me to recognize the unmet needs that have turned to desire and lust.
Create a clean heart within me.
Let all that has been stored in secret come forth into the radiance of your light.
Oh,
Wash away my hidden faults!
For you are kind and merciful.
Ever searching for ready hearts and comforting those who cry out to you.
Implant your gifts within my spirit,
That I might offer them out to those in need.
For I long to do your will,
To co-create in joy.
To become a magnificent presence in the world,
Become like a garment wrapped around me.
Clothe me in the raiment of your love.
On this second reading,
I'm going to focus in on just a few of the verses within that bigger reading.
So as these words come,
Notice any that capture your attention.
May I open myself to change,
To being guided by the Spirit.
May I risk the unknown and live into the mystery.
Awaken me to the Holy.
The divinity of all creation.
O that I might honour the sacredness of all life.
And on this final reading of those few verses.
Become aware of how you want to respond,
Of how they're making you feel.
Of what they might be offering you,
Of what they might be inviting you to.
Let them find a resting place within your heart and spirit.
May I open myself to change.
To being guided by the Spirit.
May I risk the unknown and live into the mystery.
Awaken me to the holy,
The divinity of all creation.
O that I might honour the sacredness of all life.
Beloveds,
May you know yourself wrapped in the garment of love.
May you know yourself seen and held.
May these words continue to unfold within you and offer their gift.
Amen.
