Hello and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 28.
Recording outside again,
So do welcome the sounds that you hear as part of the meditation,
Whether they be sounds from nature or life going by,
Welcome.
And as we begin,
I invite you to breathe deeply,
Taking a bigger inhale and a longer exhale.
And as you exhale,
Letting your shoulders drop,
Allowing your body to sink,
To be held and supported.
If your feet are on the floor,
Feel that connection between the soles of them and the ground.
Know yourself grounded and rooted in great love.
Know yourself in this moment to be seen,
To be deeply cared for.
Know that right now nothing is required,
Simply be here and receive the grace to be present.
Let go of the day so far and of what's to come.
Take a few moments to come to stillness as you continue to be aware of your breath.
Psalm 28,
Taken from Nan Merrill's book,
Psalms for praying,
An invitation to wholeness.
I'm going to read the Psalm three times.
On this first reading,
Simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Heart of my heart,
I call to you.
You hear my cry and support me.
Should you remain silent in me,
I walk as in a desert waste.
You heed the voice of my humble request when I call on your holy name,
When I lift my hands,
Oh holy one,
To acknowledge your power and glory.
Protect me from those who love you not,
Those who delight in their own law,
Whose words become meaningless by the deeds of their hearts.
In your justice they will reap a harvest of loneliness.
In your mercy they will receive a reward worthy of their acts.
For they who remain separated from your love,
Oh beloved,
Will miss the joy of your blessed grace,
The peace of your companioning presence.
Blessed are you heart of my heart,
For you heed the cry of my spirit.
You are my strength and my protection.
Into your hands I commend my soul.
My heart leaps as you come to my aid,
And my lament becomes a song of exaltation,
A shout of praise to you,
Oh my comforter.
Remember well,
Oh my friends,
The spirit of truth becomes known to all who are receptive to love,
Giving strength and shelter.
Mercy and justice are our birthright.
Let us call on the giver of life to guide our feet into the way of peace and to live in our hearts forever.
Blessed be the name of the Most High.
And on this second reading I invite you to notice any words or phrases that stand out to you and capture your attention.
Heart of my heart I call to you.
You hear my cry and support me.
Should you remain silent in me,
I walk as in a desert waste.
You heed the voice of my humble request when I call your holy name,
When I lift my hands,
Oh holy one,
To acknowledge your power and glory.
Protect me from those who love you not,
Those who delight in their own law,
Whose words become meaningless by the deeds of their hearts.
In your justice they will reap a harvest of loneliness.
In your mercy they will receive a reward worthy of their acts.
For they who remain separated from your love,
Oh beloved,
Will miss the joy of your blessed grace,
The peace of your companioning presence.
Blessed are you heart of my heart,
For you heed the cry of my spirit.
You are my strength and my protection.
Into your hands I commend my soul.
My heart leaps as you come to my aid,
And my lament becomes a song of exaltation,
A shout of praise to you,
Oh my comforter.
Remember well,
Oh my friends,
The spirit of truth becomes known to all who are receptive to love,
Giving strength and shelter.
Mercy and justice are our birthright.
Let us call on the giver of life to guide our feet into the way of peace,
And to live in our hearts forever.
Blessed be the name of the Most High.
And on this third and final reading,
Welcome those words or phrases to bring you their offering,
Welcome them to minister you and to go deeper.
Notice what they're inviting,
What gift they're bringing,
What questions they're stirring within.
Heart of my heart,
I call to you.
You hear my cry and support me.
Should you remain silent in me,
I walk as in a desert waste.
You heed the voice of my humble request when I call your holy name,
When I lift my hands,
Oh holy one,
To acknowledge your power and glory.
Protect me from those who love you not,
Those who delight in their own law,
Whose words become meaningless by the deeds of their hearts.
In your justice they will reap a harvest of loneliness.
In your mercy they will receive a reward worthy of their acts.
For they who remain separated from your love,
Oh beloved,
Will miss the joy of your blessed grace,
The peace of your companioning presence.
Blessed are you heart of my heart,
For you heed the cry of my spirit.
You are my strength and my protection.
Into your hands I commend my soul.
My heart leaps as you come to my aid and my lament becomes a song of exaltation,
A shout of praise to you,
Oh my comforter.
Remember well,
Oh my friends,
The spirit of truth becomes known to all who are receptive to love,
Giving strength and shelter.
Mercy and justice are our birthright.
Let us call on the giver of life to guide our feet into the way of peace and to live in our hearts forever.
Blessed be the name of the Most High.
Blessings my friends.
Do linger with these words,
Do linger with the phrases that captured your attention and stay a while if you have time.
Grace,
Peace and much love to you.
