Hello friends,
Welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 56.
I'm recording outside again so I invite you to welcome the sounds of life,
Of nature as part of this meditation.
And as a way to arrive I'm simply going to be quiet and allow you to listen to nature,
To the sounds of life as you settle in,
Arrive and become ready to receive the words of this psalm.
I'm going to read the psalm three times and on this first reading I invite you to simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Reading as usual from Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying,
An invitation to wholeness.
Be gracious to me,
O merciful love,
For I dread the power of others.
All day long my fears consume me.
I am like a doormat that people step upon.
To oppose another's will seems too much for me.
Now,
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In you,
O guide and comforter,
I find the strength to act.
What can others do to me?
Too often I succumb to invitations not in my best interest.
I do that which I know can only lead to harm.
Others know of my weakness.
They watch my downfall.
Only with you by my side,
O rock,
Will I find courage to choose new life.
In your saving grace,
Answer my prayer,
O beloved.
If you had kept count of my transgressions,
Your tears could fill a lake.
Are they not in your book?
Now my fears will be turned back in the day when I call.
This I know that the beloved dwells within.
In you,
Whose love I praise.
In the holy one,
Whose light I praise.
In you shall I trust without fear.
What can others do to me?
My vows to you I must uphold,
O beloved.
I give you thanks.
My heart overflows with gratitude.
For you deliver me from the depths of despair.
Yes,
My fears you help me to face.
They are put to rest.
That I may walk with you,
O beloved,
Into the light of a new dawn.
I invite you on this second reading to notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Be gracious to me,
O merciful love,
For I dread the power of others.
All day long my fears consume me.
I am like a doormat that people step upon.
To oppose another's will seems too much for me.
Now,
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In you,
O guide and comforter,
I find the strength to act.
What can others do to me?
Too often I succumb to invitations not in my best interest.
I do that which I know can only lead to harm.
Others know of my weakness.
They watch my downfall.
Only with you by my side,
O rock,
Will I find courage to choose new life.
In your saving grace,
Answer my prayer,
O beloved.
If you had kept count of my transgressions,
Your tears could fill a lake.
Are they not in your book?
Now my fears will be turned back in the day when I call.
This I know that the beloved dwells within.
In you whose love I praise,
In the holy one whose light I praise.
In you I shall trust without fear.
What can others do to me?
My vows to you I must uphold,
O beloved.
I give you thanks.
My heart overflows with gratitude,
For you deliver me from the depths of despair.
Yes,
My fears you help me to face.
They are put to rest.
That I may walk with you,
O beloved,
Into the light of a new dawn.
On this third and final reading,
I invite you to notice what it is about those words or phrases that captured your attention.
How do they make you feel?
How are you responding to them?
Do you sense an invitation in them or an offering?
Do they connect with what you need at this time?
Welcome the words to bring you their gift.
Be gracious to me,
O merciful love,
For I dread the power of others.
All day long my fears consume me.
I am like a doormat that people step upon.
To oppose another's will seems too much for me.
Now,
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In you,
O guide and comforter,
I find the strength to act.
What can others do to me?
Too often I succumb to invitations not in my best interest.
I do that which I know can only lead to harm.
Others know of my weakness.
They watch my downfall.
Only with you by my side,
O rock,
Will I find courage to choose new life.
In your saving grace,
Answer my prayer,
O beloved.
If you had kept count of my transgressions,
Your tears could fill a lake.
Are they not in your book?
Now my fears will be turned back in the day when I call.
This I know that the Beloved dwells within.
In you,
Whose love I praise,
In the Holy One whose light I praise.
In you,
I shall trust without fear.
What can others do to me?
My vows to you I must uphold,
O beloved.
I give you thanks.
My heart overflows with gratitude.
For you deliver me from the depths of despair.
Yes,
My fears you help me to face.
They are put to rest.
That I may walk with you,
O beloved,
Into the light of a new dawn.
Be blessed,
Friends.
May hope,
Grace and love go with you.
Amen.
Thank you.
