Hello friends,
Welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 44,
Recording outside on a spring day in England.
Welcome the sounds of nature and life as it passes by as part of this meditation.
To begin find a comfortable position.
Place your hands on your heart and take three deep wide breaths.
As you follow the inhale and the exhale,
Allow your shoulders to drop and your body to sink.
Welcoming the opportunity to be supported,
To be held,
To let go,
To know that nothing is required or demanded,
But to be here in this moment.
This is a long psalm so I'm only going to read it twice.
On this first reading welcome the words to come as a gift.
We have heard with our ears a rock of ages.
All generations have proclaimed the mighty deeds you wrought in their days,
In the days of old.
Of how you with your own hand drove out the nations sowing seeds for new life.
Of how you led the peoples into bondage and then you set them free.
For not by their own might did they win the land,
Nor did their own strength give them victory,
But by your power and your might and the light of your countenance,
For you sought to awaken them.
O you who know all hearts,
Who are ever present to your people,
Through you we face our enemies,
Through your name we call forth our fears.
For not in military powers do we trust,
Nor can arms save us,
For only in you can we put our fears to rest and transform them into peace.
In you,
O gracious one,
Do we give thanks,
And forever will we offer you our songs of praise.
Yet at times you seem to abandon us,
Leaving us alone with our fears.
You have given us the freedom to turn from you.
Then does our ego seek to rule the day.
We become as sheep for slaughter,
Straying far from the fold.
You seem to require too little of us,
Remaining remote as we wander on worldly highways.
Without your saving grace we come in conflict with our neighbours.
We fear all who seem different from us.
We seek to better ourselves at the expense of other nations.
We become arrogant and greedy.
Our spirit weakens as we attack others.
We become deaf and blind to the cries of those oppressed at the sight of those wronged.
As all this comes upon us,
We finally remember you,
O infinite love.
We pray for your strength in all of our hopes and challenges.
Our hearts recall your promises of old,
To be with us always.
Yet deep darkness overshadows the land.
Until crises come we forget the name of the creator.
We spread forth our hands to a world god.
Yet can we ever hide from you,
O beloved?
For you know the secrets,
The will of our hearts and mind.
No,
Love does not abandon us.
We ourselves turn our faces from the light.
Rouse yourself.
Why do you sleep,
O foolish peoples?
Awaken.
Do not stray in the darkness forever.
Why do you cover your faces?
Why are you ashamed and cast down?
With your souls bowed down to the dust.
Call out to the beloved for forgiveness.
Rise up.
Pray for a change of heart.
Then will the indwelling presence,
The divine guest awaken you with kindly love.
On this second and final reading,
I invite you to notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
To receive their gift,
Their invitation,
To notice how they stir you and make you feel.
We have heard with our ears a rock of ages.
All generations have proclaimed the mighty deeds you wrought in their days,
In the days of old.
Of how you with your own hand drove out the nations,
Sowing seeds for new life.
Of how you led the peoples into bondage and then you set them free.
For not by their own might did they win the land,
Nor did their own strength give them victory.
But by your power and your might and the light of your countenance,
For you sought to awaken them.
O you who know all hearts,
Who are ever present to your people.
Through you we face our enemies.
Through your name we call forth our fears.
For not in military powers do we trust,
Nor can arms save us.
For only in you can we put our fears to rest and transform them into peace.
In you,
O gracious one,
Do we give thanks.
And forever will we offer you our songs of praise.
Yet at times you seem to abandon us,
Leaving us alone with our fears.
You have given us the freedom to turn from you.
Then does our ego seek to rule the day.
We become as sheep for slaughter,
Straying far from the fold.
You seem to require too little of us,
Remaining remote as we wander on worldly highways.
Without your saving grace we come in conflict with our neighbours.
We fear all who seem different from us.
We seek to better ourselves at the expense of other nations.
We become arrogant and greedy.
Our spirit weakens as we attack others.
We become deaf and blind to the cries of the oppressed at the sight of those wronged.
As all this comes upon us,
We finally remember you,
O infinite love.
We pray for your strength in all of our hopes and challenges.
Our hearts recall your promises of old,
To be with us always.
Yet deep darkness overshadows the land.
Until crises come,
We forget the name of the creator.
We spread forth our hands to a world god.
Yet can we ever hide from you,
O beloved.
For you know the secrets,
The will of our hearts and mind.
No,
Love does not abandon us.
We ourselves turn our faces from the light.
Rouse yourself.
Why do you sleep,
O foolish peoples?
Awaken.
Do not stray in the darkness forever.
Why do you cover your faces?
Why are you ashamed and cast down?
With your souls bowed down to the dust,
Call out to the beloved for forgiveness.
Rise up.
Pray for a change of heart.
Then will the indwelling presence,
The divine guest,
Awaken you with kindly love.
Blessings,
Grace and love to you,
My friends.
Amen.
