Hello friends,
Welcome to Psalm 36.
Continuing to read from Nan Merrill's book,
Psalms for Praying and Invitation to Wholeness.
This Lectio Divina brings the opportunity for you to connect with the words as they come,
To receive their gift and to let them bring you what you need at this time.
As we prepare I invite you to come to stillness,
To do whatever you need to do in order to begin to feel settled and rested.
It may help to notice your breathing and even to take a few deeper,
Wider breaths.
Let your shoulders drop.
Maybe open your hands as a gesture of surrender,
Of letting go of the day so far and of what's to come and as a way to receive the gift of these words.
Let yourself be seen in this moment by the beloved,
To be met with compassion and kindness,
To know that you are understood and that you are not alone.
I'm going to read the Psalm three times and on this first reading simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Ignorance lives deep in the hearts of those who know not love.
There is no reverence for truth before their eyes,
For they see themselves as powerful and are too proud to see how they deceive themselves and others.
They speak not with integrity and act not with wisdom and love.
At night their thoughts turn to plotting,
Driving them to seek more power,
Fear becomes their constant companion.
Would that they knew that your steadfast love,
O Holy One,
Extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to all the world,
Your saving justice is like the mountains,
Firm and sure,
Your judgments are like the mighty deep,
Your love supports all of creation,
Yes your love consciousness is everlasting.
How precious is your steadfast love,
O companioning presence.
We,
Your children,
Take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundance of Gaia,
The earth.
You invite us to drink from living streams of life.
For in you is the very source of life and in your light do we see light.
May your steadfast love endure to those who know you,
Your saving grace to those who love truth and justice.
Protect us from the seeds of arrogance,
The weeds of greed drive away.
Open the hearts of those who live in darkness,
O beloved,
That they might rise up and live in the light of oneness.
And on this second reading I invite you to notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Ignorance lives deep in the hearts of those who know not love.
There is no reverence for truth before their eyes.
For they see themselves as powerful and are too proud to see how they deceive themselves and others.
They speak not with integrity and act not with wisdom and love.
At night their thoughts turn to plotting,
Driving them to seek more power.
Fear becomes their constant companion.
Would that they knew your steadfast love,
O Holy One,
Extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to all the world.
Your saving justice is like the mountains,
Firm and sure.
Your judgments are like the mighty deep.
Your love supports all of creation.
Yes,
Your love consciousness is everlasting.
How precious is your steadfast love,
O companioning presence.
We,
Your children,
Take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundance of Gaia,
The earth.
You invite us to drink from living streams of life.
For in you is the very source of life,
And in your light do we see light.
May your steadfast love endure to those who know you,
Your saving grace to those who love truth and justice.
Protect us from the seeds of arrogance.
The weeds of greed drive away.
Open the hearts of those who live in darkness,
O beloved,
That they might rise up and live in the light of oneness.
This third and final reading is an opportunity to welcome those words and phrases that captured your attention to bring their gift,
To meet you in a deeper place,
To bring you what you need,
To bring an invitation,
An offering.
Ignorance lives deep in the hearts of those who know not love.
There is no reverence for truth before their eyes,
For they see themselves as powerful and are too proud to see how they deceive themselves and others.
They speak not with integrity and act not with wisdom and love.
At night their thoughts turn to plotting,
Driving them to seek more power.
Fear becomes their constant companion.
Would that they knew that your steadfast love,
O Holy One,
Extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to all the world,
Your saving justice is like the mountains,
Firm and sure,
Your judgments are like the mighty deep,
Your love supports all of creation.
Yes,
Your love consciousness is everlasting.
How precious is your steadfast love,
O companioning presence.
We,
Your children,
Take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundance of Gaea the earth.
You invite us to drink from living streams of life,
For in you is the very source of life,
And in your light do we see light.
May your steadfast love endure to those who know you,
Your saving grace to those who love truth and justice.
Protect us from the seeds of arrogance,
The weeds of greed drive away.
Open the hearts of those who live in darkness,
O beloved,
That they might rise up and live in the light of oneness.
Be blessed,
My friends.
May grace and peace and love be yours.
Amen.
Amen.
