Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 30.
Recording outside,
I invite you to welcome the sounds of nature,
Of life,
And to include them as part of this contemplative space.
As we begin,
I invite you to come to stillness.
Maybe you want to close your eyes.
Get comfortable.
You may want to lie down.
You may want to sit in a chair.
Allow yourself some time to settle,
To come to stillness.
And when you're ready,
It may be helpful to take a few deeper,
Wider breaths.
Letting your attention follow the inhale and the exhale.
As you exhale,
Let your body sink.
Letting go of the day so far.
Letting yourself be held and supported.
Know that you are welcome.
Always welcome just as you are and always met with love,
Compassion,
And grace by the beloved.
I'm going to read this psalm three times and I'm reading from Psalms for Praying,
An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan Merrill.
This first reading is an opportunity to simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
All praise to you,
O beloved,
For you have raised me up and have not let my fears overwhelm me.
O compassionate one,
I cried for help and you comforted me.
You O love,
Helped me release my soul from despair.
You gave me strength to face my fears.
Now love is awakening in me.
In praises to the beloved,
All you saints,
Giving thanks to love's holy name.
Love withdraws when we close our hearts,
Yet ever awaits an open door.
In the evening we may weep,
Yet joy comes in the morning.
In my prosperity I had lost sight of love.
I found power in my wealth.
In your mercy,
O beloved,
My foundations you shook.
And in recognising my separation from you,
I was dismayed.
I cried to you for help.
To you I pleaded for forgiveness.
What profit in my riches if I am separated from love?
Will emptiness praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me,
O beloved,
And be gracious to me.
O love,
Hasten to my assistance.
And you turned my mourning into dancing.
You set me free and clothed me with gladness.
My soul rejoices and is glad in you.
Songs of gratitude fill my soul,
Rising up to you,
O beloved.
Amen.
So on this next reading I invite you to notice any words or phrases that stand out to you that capture your attention.
All praise to you,
O beloved,
For you have raised me up and have not let my fears overwhelm me.
O compassionate one,
I cried for help and you comforted me.
You O love,
Helped me release my soul from despair.
You gave me strength to face my fears.
Now love is awakening in me.
Sing praises to the beloved,
All you saints,
Giving thanks to love's holy name.
Love withdraws when we close our hearts,
Yet ever awaits an open door.
In the evening we may weep,
Yet joy comes in the morning.
In my prosperity I had lost sight of love.
I found power in my wealth.
In your mercy,
O beloved,
My foundations you shook.
And in recognizing my separation from you,
I was dismayed.
I cried to you for help.
You,
I pleaded for forgiveness.
What profit in my riches if I am separated from love?
Will emptiness praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me,
O beloved,
And be gracious to me.
O love hastened to my assistance.
And you turned my mourning into dancing.
You set me free and clothed me with gladness.
My soul rejoices and is glad in you.
Songs of gratitude fill my soul,
Rising up to you,
O beloved.
Amen.
This third and final reading is an opportunity to welcome those words or phrases,
To bring their offering,
To bring their gift.
Welcome them to go deeper,
To minister to you,
To stir you,
To invite.
Let them settle on your heart and your soul,
And with openness receive what they're offering.
All praise to you,
O beloved,
For you have raised me up and have not let my fears overwhelm me.
O compassionate one,
I cried for help and you comforted me.
You O love,
Helped me release my soul from despair.
You gave me strength to face my fears.
Now love is awakening in me.
In praises to the beloved,
All you saints,
Giving thanks to love's holy name.
Love withdraws when we close our hearts,
Yet ever awaits an open door.
In the evening we may weep,
Yet joy comes with the morning.
In my prosperity I had lost sight of love.
I found power in my wealth.
In your mercy,
O beloved,
My foundations you shook.
And in recognising my separation from you,
I was dismayed.
I cried to you for help.
To you I pleaded for forgiveness.
What profit in my riches if I am separated from love?
Will emptiness praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me,
O beloved,
And be gracious to me.
O love hastened to my assistance.
And you turned my mourning into dancing.
You set me free and clothed me with gladness.
My soul rejoices and is glad in you.
Songs of gratitude fill my soul,
Rising up to you,
O beloved.
Amen.
May these words bring you what you need.
May you know grace and peace and love and great hope.
