Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 27,
Complete with the sounds of nature and of life as part of this meditation.
I want to invite you along with me to come to this stillness to let ourselves settle and become present,
Resting in this moment,
In this place where we are held and supported,
Loved and known.
If you want to join me in taking a few deep wide breaths,
Filling the lungs,
Slowly exhaling,
And at the end of your inhale and at the end of your exhale,
Pausing gently before breathing again.
As you follow this rhythm of your breath,
Let your body sink,
Let your shoulders relax.
And as we come to this Psalm,
Let's spend a few moments placing things down.
So in the quiet I invite you to notice what you've been carrying in your thinking,
In your emotions,
In your life.
Noticing anything that's been a burden,
It's been heavy to hold onto.
And for these moments,
For this moment in time,
I invite you to simply place those things down one by one,
Knowing that they're seen,
That as you place them down they can be a prayer that's responded to.
Simply spend a few moments acknowledging how you come today,
What's been present for you recently,
And for these moments letting it go.
And my prayer for you as we come to this Psalm is that you would know that you are met with love,
With kindness and compassion,
And that you matter a very great deal,
That you are held and sustained in the enveloping love of the beloved.
I'm going to read this Psalm three times.
On this first reading,
Simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Love is my light and my salvation,
Whom shall I fear?
Love is the strength of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When fears assail me,
Rising up to accuse me,
Each one in turn shall be seen in love's light.
Though a multitude of demons rise up within me,
My heart shall not fear.
Though doubts and guilt do battle,
Yet shall I remain confident.
One thing have I asked of love that I shall ever seek,
That I might dwell in the heart of love all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of my beloved and to know love's plan.
For I shall hide in love's heart in the day of trouble,
As in a tent in the desert,
Away from the noise of my fears,
And I shall rise above my struggles,
My pain,
Shouting blessings of gratitude in love's heart,
And singing melodies of praise to my beloved.
Hear,
Oh my beloved,
When I cry aloud,
Be gracious and answer me.
You have said,
Seek my face.
My heart responds,
Your face my beloved do I seek.
Hide not your face from me.
Do not turn from me,
You who have been my refuge.
Enfold me in your strong arms,
Oh blessed one.
Though my father and mother may not understand me,
You my beloved,
Know me and love me.
Teach me to be love,
As you are love.
Lead me through each fear.
Hold my hand as I walk through valleys of illusion each day,
That I may know your peace.
I believe that I shall know the realm of heaven,
Of love here on earth.
Call upon the beloved,
Be strong and trust in the heart's courage.
Trust in the power of love,
The beloved's unconditional and everlasting love for you.
And on this second reading,
I invite you to notice any words or phrases that stand out to you that capture your attention,
That resonate with your heart.
Love is my light and my salvation,
Whom shall I fear?
Love is the strength of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid.
When fears assail me,
Rising up to accuse me,
Each one in turn shall be seen in love's light.
Though a multitude of demons rise up within me,
My heart shall not fear.
Though doubts and guilt do battle,
Yet shall I remain confident.
One thing have I asked of love,
That I shall ever seek,
That I might dwell in the heart of love all the days of my life.
To behold the beauty of my beloved and to know love's plan.
For I shall hide in love's heart in the day of trouble,
As in a tent in the desert,
Away from the noise of my fears.
And I shall rise above my struggles,
My pain,
Shouting blessings of gratitude in love's heart,
And singing melodies of praise to my beloved.
Hear,
Oh my beloved,
When I cry aloud,
Be gracious and answer me.
You have said,
Seek my face.
My heart responds,
Your face my beloved,
Do I seek.
Hide not your face from me.
Do not turn from me,
You who have been my refuge.
Enfold me in your strong arms,
Oh blessed one.
Though my father and mother may not understand me,
You my beloved,
Know me and love me.
Teach me to be love,
As you are love.
Lead me through each fear.
Hold my hand as I walk through valleys of illusion each day,
That I may know your peace.
I believe that I shall know the realm of heaven,
Of love here on earth.
Call upon the beloved,
Be strong and trust in the heart's courage.
Trust in the power of love,
The beloved's unconditional and everlasting love for you.
This third and final reading is an opportunity to welcome those words or phrases,
To go to a deeper place within,
To bring you their offering,
Their invitation,
Their gift,
To bring you what you need at this time.
Love is my light and my salvation,
Whom shall I fear?
Love is the strength of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When fears assail me,
Rising up to accuse me,
Each one in turn shall be seen in love's light.
Though a multitude of demons rise up within me,
My heart shall not fear.
Though doubts and guilt do battle,
Yet shall I remain confident.
One thing have I asked of love that I shall ever seek,
That I might dwell in the heart of love all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of my beloved and to know love's plan.
For I shall hide in love's heart in the day of trouble,
As in a tent in the desert,
Away from the noise of my fears,
And I shall rise above my struggles,
My pain,
Shouting blessings of gratitude in love's heart,
And singing melodies of praise to my beloved.
Hear,
O my beloved,
When I cry aloud,
Be gracious and answer me.
You have said,
Seek my face.
My heart responds,
Your face,
My beloved,
Do I seek.
Hide not your face from me.
Do not turn from me,
You who have been my refuge.
Enfold me in your strong arms,
O blessed one,
Though my father and mother may not understand me,
You,
My beloved,
Know me and love me.
Teach me to be love,
As you are love.
Lead me through each fear.
Hold my hand as I walk through valleys of illusion each day,
That I may know your peace.
I believe that I shall now know the realm of heaven,
Of love here on earth.
Call upon the beloved,
Be strong and trust in the heart's courage.
Trust in the power of love,
The beloved's unconditional and everlasting love for you.
Blessings my friends,
Be encouraged by these words,
Be lifted,
Be met.
May they bring you what you need.
May they bring you hope and assurance.
I look forward to the next Psalm and being with you again and in the meantime be blessed.
Amen.
