Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 40.
Reading from Nan Merrill's book,
Psalms for Praying,
An invitation to wholeness.
As we begin I invite you to stillness.
Allow yourself to arrive in this place and this moment.
Settling in to the floor,
Into your chair,
Allowing yourself to be held and supported.
Welcome the grace to be present and to allow the day so far to fall away.
Slowly become attentive to your breath,
Following the inhale and the exhale.
I'm going to read this Psalm twice and on this first reading I invite you to simply welcome the words without attaching to any in particular.
I waited patiently for the beloved who heard my cry and came to me.
Love raised me from the pits of despair,
Out of confusion and fear,
And set my feet upon a rock,
Making my steps secure.
There is a new song in my mouth,
A song of praise to the beloved.
May many see and rejoice,
May they put their trust in love.
Blessed are those who make love their home,
Who do not turn to the proud,
To those who follow false idols.
O beloved,
How wondrous are your gifts to us,
Your thoughts are beyond our imagination.
What joy to live in oneness with you,
Were we to proclaim and tell of your beauty and blessed grace,
Who could measure it.
Sacrifice and offering are not your desire for us,
For you have opened our hearts ear,
Burnt offerings are not required,
My heart affirms my surrender.
In the book of life it is written,
I abandon myself into your hands,
For I love you and wish only to create with you,
O my beloved,
For you are the life of my life forever.
I tell the glad news of love's way to all who will listen.
Yes,
I raise my voice with praise and acclamation.
I tell of love saving grace within my heart.
I speak of love's faithfulness and healing power.
I aspire to reveal your steadfast love and truth through the witness of my life.
Do not,
O beloved,
Withhold your mercy from me.
Let your love,
Your light and faithfulness ever guide and uphold me.
For fears so often overwhelm me,
My desires and anger cause me to be blind,
So I look away when I see injustice,
My heart becomes cold.
In your mercy,
O beloved,
Deliver me.
O love,
Make haste to help me.
Let my fears be put to rest,
Fears that separate me from you.
Let all that keeps me from love,
From peace and gratitude,
Be transformed within me.
And may all who seek love rejoice and be glad.
May all who would live truth and justice continually call upon love.
As for me,
Though often broken and weak,
I know that love dwells within.
For now,
Where injustice or illusion make their home,
I witness to your peace and love,
O teacher and friend to all.
On this second and final reading,
I invite you to notice the words,
The phrases that stand out to you,
That capture your attention.
Welcome them and allow them to offer their gift,
To bring you what you need in this moment.
I waited patiently for the beloved,
Who heard my cry and came to me.
Love raised me from the pits of despair,
Out of confusion and fear,
And set my feet upon a rock,
Making my steps secure.
There is a new song in my mouth,
A song of praise to the beloved.
May many see and rejoice.
May they put their trust in love.
Blessed are those who make love their home,
Who do not turn to the proud,
To those who follow false idols.
O beloved,
How wondrous are your gifts to us.
Your thoughts are beyond our imagination.
What joy to live in oneness with you.
Were we to proclaim and tell of your beauty and blessed grace,
Who could measure it?
Sacrifice and offering are not your desire for us,
For you have opened our hearts ear.
Burnt offerings are not required.
My heart affirms my surrender.
In the book of life it is written.
I abandon myself into your hands for I love you and wish only to create with you,
O my beloved.
For you are the life of my life forever.
I tell the glad news of love's way to all who will listen.
Yes,
I raise my voice with praise and acclamation.
I tell of love saving grace within my heart.
I speak of love's faithfulness and healing power.
I aspire to reveal your steadfast love and truth through the witness of my life.
Do not,
O beloved,
Withhold your mercy from me.
Let your love,
Your light and faithfulness ever guide and uphold me.
For fears so often overwhelm me.
My desires and anger cause me to be blind.
So I look away when I see injustice.
My heart becomes cold.
In your mercy,
O beloved,
Deliver me.
O love,
Make haste to help me.
Let my fears be put to rest,
Fears that separate me from you.
Let all that keeps me from love,
From peace and gratitude,
Be transformed within me.
And may all who seek love rejoice and be glad.
May all who would live truth and justice continually call upon love.
As for me,
Though often broken and weak,
I know that love dwells within.
For now,
Where injustice or illusion make their home,
I witness to your peace and love.
O teacher and friend to all.
If you want to linger with these words,
I invite you to re-listen.
Welcome them to bring their gift to you.
You may want to linger in stillness and receive deeply the words and phrases that captured your attention.
I pray that you will know yourself loved,
And held,
And that you will experience the hope and peace of the beloved.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
