Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 71.
To begin with,
Allowing a few moments for you to arrive and settle into this space,
To gather yourself from the day,
Gently welcome stillness and peace,
Letting yourself settle into the chair or the floor,
To settle into your body,
Noticing your breath.
You are welcome here just as you are.
You are met with the love of the beloved and held in grace.
I'm going to read the whole Psalm through once and then return to a few verses.
Welcome these words,
Let them bring their gift and their offering to you,
Let them settle in your mind and your heart and your body.
In you,
Oh my beloved,
Do I take refuge,
Let me never feel separated from you.
In your compassion come and refresh me,
Listen to my cry,
Answer my plea.
Be to me a rock,
A tower of strength,
A strong arm to uphold me as I abandon myself into your hands.
Be a very great presence to me as fear grips me,
As I grow old and my friends leave me.
For you,
Oh friend,
Are my hope,
My strength since I was but a child.
Upon you have I trusted from my birth,
You whom I knew before my mother's womb.
I continually sing praises to you,
I have been a burden to many.
Now in you alone will I trust,
I am filled with gratitude and sing your praises all the day.
Do not abandon me in my old age,
Desert me not when my strength is spent,
Or when my mind plays tricks with me,
For fears rise up to confuse me.
Doubts and forgetfulness band together and say the beloved no longer dwells with you,
There is no one to stand by you.
Oh friend,
Be not far from me,
Oh beloved,
Come and enfold me in your presence.
Help me to release my fears,
Hear my prayer that these fears may be transformed.
Oh you who are my counsellor,
As I surrender myself into your hands,
I praise you more and more.
I tell others of your goodness,
Of your compassion and grace,
Of your love and kindness.
Your compassion and grace all the day,
For your glory is beyond my understanding.
As I grow in inner peace and serenity,
I sing songs of thanksgiving to you,
My friend.
You who have done wondrous things,
Oh beloved,
Who is like you?
You who have seen me through many fears,
Strengthen me again from the depths of despair,
You renew my spirit,
You increase my trust and you comfort me.
I praise you in the silence of my heart,
For your steadfast love,
Oh my beloved.
I offer my prayers out to others,
Extending your love.
My heart leaps for joy as I whisper to you in the night,
My soul also,
Which you renew within me is glad.
And I tell my friends as well as strangers of your abounding grace and kindness,
For my fears have diminished,
My strength has returned,
I will live my remaining years in peace.
Blessed be the beloved who dwells in all hearts.
I'm going to return to a few verses and read them twice more.
Notice any words or phrases that capture your attention on this first reading.
You who have done wondrous things,
Oh beloved,
Who is like you?
You who have seen me through many fears,
Strengthen me again from the depths of despair,
You renew my spirit,
You increase my trust and you comfort me.
I praise you in the silence of my heart,
For your steadfast love,
Oh my beloved.
I offer my prayers out to others,
Extending your love.
My heart leaps for joy as I whisper to you in the night,
My soul which you renew within me is also glad.
I'm going to read those few verses once more.
I invite you to welcome the words or phrases that captured your attention,
To land in you,
To bring their gift,
To settle in your heart,
In your body.
Notice the gift that they offer,
How you may want to respond to them,
What they may be bringing you that you need in this moment.
Welcome them to minister to you in this moment.
You who have done wondrous things,
Oh beloved,
Who is like you?
You who have seen me through many fears,
Strengthen me again from the depths of despair,
You renew my spirit,
You increase my trust and you comfort me.
I praise you in the silence of my heart,
For your steadfast love,
Oh my beloved.
I offer my prayers out to others,
Extending your love.
My heart leaps for joy as I whisper to you in the night,
My soul which you renew within me is also glad.
May grace and goodness and great love go with you.
Amen.
