Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 33.
I invite us to become still as we enter this time.
So let yourself arrive from whatever you've been doing into this here and now moment.
Whether you're sitting or lying down,
Welcome stillness.
Become aware of your body,
Of the inhale and the exhale.
Bringing your attention inwards,
Receiving the grace to be present.
If you come into this space with burdens and heaviness,
Let them fall away just for now.
Welcome the love and the grace of the Spirit to lift the heaviness from your shoulders.
To receive those words from Julian of Maroridge,
That all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
And simply let yourself be here,
Seen,
Known and loved.
This is a longer Psalm,
So I'm going to read it twice.
I'm reading from Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying,
An invitation to Wholeness.
So on this first reading,
I invite you to simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Rejoice in the beloved,
O you holy ones.
Praise is a grace of the loving.
Praise the beloved with strings and reeds.
Give praise with dance and leaps.
Sing a new song and shout with joyful heart.
For the work of the creator is truth and all creation reflects the faithfulness of the beloved.
Justice and mercy we render to the Holy One,
To the universe filled with love divine.
Through love consciousness,
The heavens and the earth were created and all who dwell on earth by the creator's breath of life.
All creation from the distant stars to the depth of the seas is held together by the oneness of love.
May all the earth reverence the beloved.
May everyone stand in awe of love.
For when the beloved speaks,
It comes to pass.
As love's way guides and directs,
Thus it stands.
Without love,
The nation's council comes to nothing.
The plans of the people are futile.
The council of the creator is eternal,
Available to every generation.
Blessed are the nations that listen in silence and make decisions with wisdom's council.
Blessed are all people who respond to love's way.
For the beloved dwells in every heart that is open and receptive.
Into our hands,
Into our hearts does the beloved surrender.
That we might do with love what we will.
Do we not know that the nations are not saved by military might?
Just as generals are not saved by their own strength.
All such arms are the outward expression of greed in fearful hearts.
They will reap only despair,
Death and destruction.
Behold,
The love of the beloved is stronger than 10,
000 bombs.
More to be desired than the wealth of all nations.
Do we not know that to dwell in the heart of the beloved is the promise to every nation?
The birthright of all people.
The journey to life eternal.
Our soul yearns for the beloved for peace,
Joy and assurance.
Then will our hearts be glad and sing songs of gratitude.
Praising the name of the Holy One.
May every nation come to live in the steadfast love and wisdom of the spirit of truth.
May all peoples work with love divine.
So on this second and final reading.
Notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
That stand out to you.
Notice how they stir you,
How they make you feel.
What they may be offering you or inviting from you.
Rejoice in the beloved.
Oh you holy ones.
Praise is a grace of the loving.
Praise the beloved with strings and reeds.
Give praise with dance and leaps.
Sing a new song and shout with joyful heart.
For the work of the creator is truth.
And all creation reflects the faithfulness of the beloved.
Justice and mercy we render to the Holy One.
To the universe filled with love divine.
Through love consciousness the heavens and earth were created and all who dwell on earth by the creator's breath of life.
All creation from the distant stars to the depths of the seas is held together by the oneness of love.
May all the earth reverence the beloved.
May everyone stand in awe of love.
For when the beloved speaks it comes to pass.
As love's way guides and directs.
Thus it stands.
Without love the nation's council comes to nothing.
The plans of the people are futile.
The council of the creator is eternal available to every generation.
Blessed are the nations that listen in silence and make decisions with wisdom's council.
Blessed are all people who respond to love's way.
For the beloved dwells in every heart that is open and receptive.
Into our hands into our hearts does the beloved surrender.
That we might do with love what we will.
Do we not know that the nations are not saved by military might.
Just as generals are not saved by their own strength.
All such arms are the outward expression of greed in fearful hearts.
They will reap only despair death and destruction.
Behold the love of the beloved is stronger than ten thousand bombs.
More to be desired than the wealth of all nations.
Do we not know that to dwell in the heart of the beloved is the promise to every nation.
The birthright of all people.
The journey to life eternal.
Our soul yearns for the beloved for peace joy and assurance.
Then will our hearts be glad and sing songs of gratitude.
Praising the name of the Holy One may every nation come to live in the steadfast love and wisdom of the spirit of truth.
May all peoples work with love divine.
I invite you to return to these words if you want to linger with them for longer.
To let them go deeper and to bring you their gift.
And I leave you with grace and hope.
And with much love.
Amen.
