Hello and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 78.
It's part one of Psalm 78 given that this is such a long psalm.
I'm going to read all of this part one of Psalm 78 and then be attentive to a few verses.
You'll notice that I'm recording outside.
Please welcome the sounds of nature,
The stream,
The birds,
The insects,
Maybe even an aeroplane going by or a farmer going by in his tractor on the lane outside.
Welcome all of this as part of this meditation.
I invite you to arrive and settle,
To become comfortable and to gently begin to welcome stillness.
Let your body,
Your heart,
Your mind begin to sink and settle and enter rest.
It may help to take a few deeper breaths,
To soften in any places where you feel tight or tense.
In these moments,
Right here and now,
Let your burdens fall away like water falling from your shoulders and entering the river of divine love to be carried as prayers.
Maybe for those burdens that are difficult to let go of,
Welcome the beloved,
Welcome the Great Mother to lift them from your shoulders,
Settling into peace and rest and goodness.
The first part of Psalm 78.
Listen well,
O peoples of the earth,
To inner promptings of the Spirit.
Let silence enter your house that you may hear.
For within your heart love speaks,
Not with words of deceit but of spiritual truths to guide you upon the paths of peace.
Do not hide this from your children.
Teach of the inward voice and help all generations to listen in the silence,
That they may know the beloved and be free to follow the precepts of love.
For the Spirit of truth is written upon hearts that we might share the divine plan.
Since the birth of consciousness,
Armed with free will,
Many there are who have rebelled against the Creator.
They did not keep the great covenant,
But refused to live according to love's way.
They forgot their purpose and the beautiful plan and all that had been given as gift.
Throughout the ages the eternal lover has shown the marvels of creation,
Wonders to behold.
Remember how the sea was divided so the people passed through,
How the waters stood as a wall,
How in the daytime they were led with a cloud and through the night with a fiery light.
Recall how the rocks in the wilderness cracked open that the people might drink their fill as from the deep.
Yes,
Streams came out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
Yet did the people close their hearts,
Rebelling against the Most High,
Living in a wilderness.
Over and over they tested love by demanding that their desires be met.
Speaking against love they cried,
Can the Mighty One not spread a feast for us?
The rocks opened so that water gushed out and streams overflowed.
Can we not also expect bread and meat to be provided for us?
We're going to return to a few verses and on this first reading notice any phrases or even a single word that captures your attention.
For the spirit of truth is written upon hearts that we might share the divine plan and model to the children love's way as we have been shown.
That each new generation might honour silence,
The children yet unborn.
Herein lies the hope of the future,
To love as co-creators with the Great Creator,
Not like those who live in ignorance,
Too impatient to wait for love's word.
Whose spirits are not faithful to their birthright of love.
On this second reading let that word or phrase continue to come to you and notice how you're responding to it.
How is it making you feel in your body,
In your heart?
Begin to be curious about what it might be offering you or inviting.
Is a response needed?
Is it simply coming to bring you something that you need at this time?
For the spirit of truth is written upon hearts that we might share the divine plan and model to the children love's way as we have been shown.
That each new generation might honour silence,
The children yet unborn.
Herein lies the hope of the future,
To love as co-creators with the Great Creator,
Not like those who live in ignorance,
Too impatient to wait for love's word.
Whose spirits are not faithful to their birthright of love.
This third and final reading allows space and opportunity for the word or phrase to really settle and take root within you.
To begin to unfold within your being and bring the fullness of its gift.
That when you leave this meditation that word or phrase goes with you,
Continuing to offer you what you need,
The invitation,
The gift.
For the spirit of truth is written upon hearts that we might share the divine plan and model to the children love's way as we have been shown.
That each new generation might honour silence,
The children yet unborn.
Herein lies the hope of the future,
To love as co-creators with the Great Creator,
Not like those who live in ignorance,
Too impatient to wait for love's word.
Whose spirits are not faithful to their birthright of love.
Go gently my friends,
Be blessed.
May you know grace accompanying you and love enfolding you.
Amen.
