Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina Ensemble 65.
I want to give you a few moments to arrive and settle into this space as a way to prepare your heart for receiving these words.
So spend a few moments getting comfortable,
Settling into your space,
Settling into your body.
Gathering yourself from the day,
Knowing that every part of you is welcome here and met with great love and tenderness.
Slowly let your attention be drawn to your breath,
Following the inhale and the exhale.
Take a few deeper,
Wider breaths.
And as you're attentive to your breath,
Let your attention move away from the noise and busyness of your head and your mind.
And into the stillness of your body.
Notice how you arrive at this Lectio Divina.
Notice what needs are present.
And notice what life is bringing you at this time.
I'm going to read the whole Psalm once.
And then twice more read a few verses.
Psalm 65.
Praise belongs to you,
O indwelling Beloved.
And to you we commit our lives,
To you who hear our prayers.
To you we come when we go astray.
When our transgressions fill us with guilt,
You do forgive us.
Blessed are those who draw near to you,
Those who dwell in your heart.
Awaken us to your kindness.
Enter into the sacred chapel of our heart.
Through the pain and suffering,
Your presence sustains us.
O merciful one,
Our comforter.
You the hope of all the earth to the distant shore that brings us home.
By your light,
The foundations were created,
Being guided by love.
You still the roaring of the seas,
The pounding of waves,
The tumult of the peoples.
So that those who dwell even at Earth's outer bounds recognize and reverence you.
At the rise of each morning and as the sun sets at night,
The people bow their heads in reverent gratitude.
You visited the earth and slaked our thirst,
Offering living streams of water.
You fed the hungry and taught of love's way.
You watered hardened souls,
Filled with stone and weeds,
Softening them with kindness and blessing their growth.
You crowned your years with abandonment,
Inviting all to eternal life.
In the desert,
Flowers come forth.
The pastures flourish with fruit and grain.
Creation's diversity is glorious.
May all people honor these gifts with joyful song while walking the path of love.
For this second reading,
I'm going to return to the first few verses of this song.
I invite you to notice any that stand out to you and capture your attention.
Praise belongs to you,
O indwelling Beloved,
And to you we commit our lives,
To you who hear our prayers.
To you we come when we go astray,
When our transgressions fill us with guilt,
You do forgive us.
Blessed are those who draw near to you,
Those who dwell in your heart.
Awaken us to your kindness,
Enter into the sacred chapel of our heart.
I'm going to return to those verses once more.
I invite you to welcome them as a gift.
To welcome those words or phrases that captured your attention.
Let them bring you what you need.
They may stir a response in you.
They may simply be the offer of a balm to your heart.
Continue to notice,
To receive and to respond.
Praise belongs to you,
O indwelling Beloved,
And to you we commit our lives,
To you who hear our prayers.
To you we come when we go astray,
When our transgressions fill us with guilt,
You do forgive.
When our transgressions fill us with guilt,
You do forgive us.
Blessed are those who draw near to you,
Those who dwell in your heart.
Awaken us to your kindness,
Enter into the sacred chapel of our heart.
You may want to linger a while and re-listen to these words.
You may want to stay and receive their gift more deeply to yourself.
Be blessed friends.
May hope and peace go with you.
Amen.
.
