Hello and welcome to the second part of Psalm 9 as a Lectio Divina.
Before we come to the Psalm,
I invite you to come to stillness.
Allow yourself to settle and to sink,
To be held and supported.
Bringing your attention from the noise and busyness of the head,
Down into those deeper,
Quieter parts of your being.
Letting go of the day so far and of what's to come.
Receiving the grace to be present here and now.
Know yourself in this moment,
Taking some deeper,
Wider breaths.
If your attention wanders to thoughts and distractions,
Simply place them down for now,
Knowing that they are seen,
That they are offered as prayers and that you can return to them later.
So I'm going to read this second part of Psalm 9,
Three times.
On this first reading,
I invite you to simply let the words come without attaching to any of them in particular.
Sending praises to the one who is love,
Who dwells in your heart.
Tell everyone of love's wonder filled deeds.
For those who know compassion will remember those in need.
Be gracious to me,
O beloved.
Behold what I suffer out of fear.
O you who awakened me from a living death,
I sing of your glory.
From the depths of my being,
I rejoice and give thanks for your faithful love.
The nations are sinking into a pit of their own making,
Into the web which they are weaving will they be caught.
Love will make itself known with a strength stronger than ten thousand armies.
The unloving will have to face themselves,
All nations that are unjust.
For the oppressed will be released and the hope of the poor will be realised.
Arise,
O love,
Have your way with us.
Let the nations bow before you and ask forgiveness.
Let your healing light stream forth,
O love.
Let the nations commit themselves to your plan.
And on this second reading,
I invite you to notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Sing praises to the one who is love,
Who dwells in your heart.
Tell everyone of love's wonder-filled deeds.
For those who know compassion will remember those in need.
Be gracious to me,
O beloved.
Behold what I suffer out of fear.
O you who awakened me from a living death,
I sing of your glory.
From the depths of my being,
I rejoice and give thanks for your faithful love.
The nations are sinking into a pit of their own making,
Into the web which they are weaving will they be caught.
Love will make itself known with a strength stronger than ten thousand armies.
The unloving will have to face themselves,
All nations that are unjust.
For the oppressed will be released and the hope of the poor will be realised.
Arise,
O love,
Have your way with us.
Let the nations bow before you and ask forgiveness.
Let your healing light stream forth,
O love.
Let the nations commit themselves to your plan.
And on this third and final reading,
I invite you to welcome those words or phrases that stood out to you to a deeper place within.
What do they offer you?
What do they invite you in this moment of your life?
How are you connecting with them?
Are they telling you anything?
Listen those words and phrases to give you what you need and to bring you what they're offering.
Sing praises to the one who is love,
Who dwells in your heart.
Tell everyone of love's wonder-filled deeds,
For those who know compassion will remember those in need.
Be gracious to me,
O beloved.
Behold what I suffer out of fear.
O you who awakened me from a living death,
I sing of your glory.
From the depths of my being,
I rejoice and give thanks for your faithful love.
The nations are sinking into a pit of their own making.
Into the web which they are weaving will they be caught.
Love will make itself known,
With a strength stronger than ten thousand armies.
The unloving will have to face themselves,
All nations that are unjust.
For the oppressed will be released and the hope of the poor will be realised.
Arise O love,
Have your way with us.
Let the nations bow before you and ask forgiveness.
Let your healing light stream forth,
O love.
Let the nations commit themselves to your plan.
And my prayer for you as we end this Lectio Divina is that you will know yourself held in the beloved,
Loved,
Seen and known.
And that your heart will know encouragement and hope.
And that you will be given everything that you need,
Today and in this moment.
May blessing,
Grace and peace be yours.
Amen.
