Welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 31.
And as we begin I invite you to settle,
To welcome stillness,
To welcome the grace to be present to these words.
Letting your shoulders sink and your body give in and be held and supported.
Letting any burden or weight be lifted from your shoulders.
Remember as you settle that you are seen and known and deeply loved.
As you become attentive to your breath let stillness come.
Become aware of how you are in this moment.
Not forcing change but letting be what is.
Knowing that what is is met with grace.
I'm recording outside so I invite you to welcome the sounds of nature and life as they go on during this contemplative space.
I'm reading from Psalms for Praying,
An invitation to Wholeness by Nan Merrill.
Psalm 31 is a long psalm so I'm only going to read it once.
I invite you to return to the beginning and re-listen if anything catches your attention,
If you want to hear the words again.
In you beloved I would make my home.
Though I be humiliated with guilt,
Your mercy and forgiveness will deliver me.
Hear me and hasten to my assistance.
For you are my strength and have the power to raise me up.
Yes,
You are strength and truth to me.
You are my teacher,
My guide.
The fire of your abiding love cleanses my heart.
Loosen the webs that entangle me,
That veil my love for you.
Into your heart I commend my soul.
You have redeemed me,
O love,
O ever faithful one.
Those who put their focus and trust in false idols separate themselves from you,
O love.
Though you have seen my guilt and have noted my wrongdoings,
You have not left me alone with my fears.
Rather,
You have forgiven my folly and set my feet on love's path.
My heartfelt gratitude knows no bounds,
O gracious mender of souls.
Be a comfort to me,
Beloved,
For I am in distress.
My eyes are dim from weeping,
My soul is deep with grief.
For my life is worn away with sorrow and my years with sighing.
My body has weakened and my bones waste away with misery.
All my fears rise up to mock me.
My neighbours turn away,
My friends dread to see me and flee from my sickness of soul.
My mind too has left me like one who is dead.
I have become like a broken vessel.
Yes,
I hear the voices around me whispering of my plight.
Fears rise up on every side.
Isolation,
Rejection,
Fear surround me and conspire to overwhelm me.
Still,
I trust in you,
O beloved.
I repeat,
You are my life.
My life is in your hands.
Deliver me from the fears which separate me.
Let your face shine on me.
Hold me in your steadfast love.
Let me know your forgiveness,
O love,
For I call upon you.
Let my fears be cast out.
Let them be transformed.
Let me speak only truth,
Beloved,
That I might live with integrity,
Offering my work and praise to you.
O how abundant is your goodness,
Which is ever-present to those who reverence you and available to all who make your heart their home,
Openly for all to see.
Like a mother hen,
You shelter them from temptations of the world.
You hold them safe under your wings from the enemy.
Fear.
Blessed be the eternal beloved who wondrously showered me with steadfast love when I was overwhelmed by fear.
I had cried out,
Where are you?
Have you left me alone forever?
You heard my fear filled please and enveloped me in love.
Listen in the silence,
All you saints,
For wisdom makes her home there.
The beloved upholds the faith-filled,
Those who embrace goodness and walk in the light.
Those who choose to remain in illusion separate themselves from truth and know not love.
Be strong.
Let your heart take courage and be encouraged,
All you who would serve with love in the oneness of light.
May your heart take courage and be encouraged.
May grace,
Peace,
Hope and great love be yours.
Amen.
.
