Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 66.
Take a breath as you arrive,
A pause in your day,
Receiving the grace to be present,
To be here in this moment.
Spend some time settling in,
Finding a comfortable position.
Gather yourself from the day so far,
Gather yourself from what's to come.
And welcome every part of you into this space.
Simply be here.
And know that in your being here you are met with love.
And know that in being here you are met with great love,
Kindness and compassion.
That you are seen for the beauty that you are,
That you are deeply known and fully accepted.
Follow the inhale and the exhale,
Taking some deeper,
Wider breaths.
And allow your attention to come into your body,
Noticing how you are as you arrive at this Lectio Divina.
I'm going to read the Psalm once and then return twice more to a few verses within it.
Psalm 66.
Sing a joyful song to the beloved all the earth,
And praise love's name.
Sing in glorious exaltation.
We say to you,
How magnificent are your ways.
So great is your power that fear and doubt vanish before you.
You are our teacher for all ages.
We who choose to listen and learn sing songs of gratitude and joy.
Come and see what the beloved has done.
Wondrous are the deeds of love.
Remember when the sea turned to dry land.
There we did rejoice in the One who rules by the mighty spirit of love forever.
Whose eyes keep watch on the nations.
Let not those who strive for power exalt themselves.
Bless the beloved,
Heart of our hearts.
Let the sound of our praises be heard.
You keep us attuned to life and guide our feet on solid ground.
For you,
O love,
Have tested us.
You have tried us as silver is tried.
You have allowed us to fall into the net.
You have watched us reap all that we have sown.
We went through fire and through water.
Yet you have brought us through our pain and into your dwelling place.
I enter your heart surrendered to love.
I command my soul into your keeping.
All that my lips uttered,
All that my mouth promised when I was in trouble and pain,
I offer up to you.
I abandon myself into your hands.
Come and hear all you who reverence the Most High.
And I shall tell what the beloved has done for me.
I cried aloud to the silent watcher of my life.
From my tongue came forth words of praise.
Had I cherished greed and power,
I would have separated myself from love.
The voice of my prayer was heard.
Blessed be the holy name of the beloved,
Loving companion presence,
Who embraced me and renewed my life.
I'm going to read a few of the verses again.
I invite you to notice which words or phrases capture your attention.
You have allowed us to fall into the net.
You have watched us reap all that we have sown.
We went through fire and through water.
Yet you have brought us through our pain and into your dwelling place.
I enter your heart surrendered to love.
I command my soul into your keeping.
All that my lips uttered,
All that my mouth promised when I was in trouble and pain,
I offer up to you.
I abandon myself into your hands.
I'm going to read those verses once more.
Welcome those words or phrases that captured your attention to bring their gift.
Notice what their offering is to you.
How they invite you to respond.
Let them bring their gift.
You have allowed us to fall into the net.
You have watched us reap all that we have sown.
We went through fire and through water.
Yet you have brought us through our pain and into your dwelling place.
I enter your heart surrendered to love.
I command my soul into your keeping.
All that my lips uttered,
All that my mouth promised when I was in trouble and pain,
I offer up to you.
I abandon myself into your hands.
May these words offer hope,
Comfort and life.
May you be blessed and know grace and joy.
Amen.
