Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on the first half of Psalm 68.
I invite you to arrive into this space.
Allow yourself to settle,
Get comfortable,
Find a position in which you can be attentive and comfortable at the same time.
Notice where you are,
Your surroundings,
Begin to become aware of the sounds you can hear.
Slowly let your attention move inward and begin to notice your breathing.
Begin to notice sensation within your body.
And let the day so far begin to fall from your shoulders,
Welcoming grace to unburden you,
Letting be what is.
And allowing yourself to be here,
Simply here,
Listening to these words,
Receiving the gift that they contain.
As you arrive here,
Notice how you arrive.
Maybe you become aware of what needs tending to within you,
What you need at this time.
Welcome what is.
Know that every part of you is welcome here and met with love and kindness.
I'm going to read the first half of this Psalm all the way through once.
And then I'm going to read a section of it twice more.
Psalm 68,
Reading from Nan Merrill's translation,
Psalms for Praying,
An Invitation to Wholeness.
Impregnate us with love,
O Comforter.
Let our fears be transformed.
Let all that keeps us separated and confused flee.
As smoke is blown away,
So let our fears rise up before you.
As wax melts before fire,
Let our fears be melted by love.
Then will we be released from bondage.
We will exult before the Beloved.
We will be jubilant with joy.
Sing to the Beloved the name above all names.
Lift up a song to our blessed friend.
Commit yourself to loving service.
Merciful to the poor and kind to the lowly is the Comforter who dwells within.
With compassion are the desolate given a home,
The prisoners set free.
But those who run from love live in a parched land.
O Beloved,
Reach into the hearts of your people.
Enter into the darkness of their fears.
As earthquakes,
As floods strike without warning,
Your presence is within us.
As the mountains tremble and volcanoes spew forth ash,
Your presence is within us.
As rain falls in abundance on desert floors,
Restore the lands that they might flourish.
That the flocks may roam and graze on fertile fields.
In your mercy,
O Beloved,
You provide for the needy.
For those in peril,
You are with us always.
A new dawn is rising.
Great will be the understanding of those who know love.
The darkness of ignorance will be overcome.
The nations will be united in their diversity,
Living in harmony and with integrity.
Like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
Its pinions with gold.
Then will fear be no more.
Love will reign in every heart.
O mighty mountain,
Mountain of the most high,
O crystal city of the new Jerusalem,
Call your people home,
Out of the rubble of this dark age.
Who will rise up to the heart of all hearts?
Who will dwell with the Beloved forever?
So as I read a small section once more,
Notice what words or phrases capture your attention.
A new dawn is rising.
Great will be the understanding of those who know love.
The darkness of ignorance will be overcome.
The nations will be united in their diversity,
Living in harmony and with integrity.
Like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
Its pinions with gold.
Then will fear be no more.
Love will reign in every heart.
I'm going to read those words once more.
Welcome whatever words or phrases stood out to you.
To bring their gift,
Notice how they make you feel and respond.
Let them bring you what you need.
Let them bring their invitation and their offering.
A new dawn is rising.
Great will be the understanding of those who know love.
The darkness of ignorance will be overcome.
The nations will be united in their diversity,
Living in harmony and with integrity.
Like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
Its pinions with gold.
Then will fear be no more.
Love will reign in every heart.
Relisten and return to these words if you want to.
Linger a while in the stillness and let them bring their gift to the deeper places within.
May you be blessed my friends with love and goodness.
May your lives overflow with grace.
Amen.
.
