Psalm 132; 2 Chronicles 34: 1-18; John 15: 12-17 (from Aimer App, Lectionary by Church House Publishing)

Lectio: initial words that spoke to me from above passages:

Psalms 132:8 Arise, O Lord, into your resting place, you and the ark of your strength.

2 Chronicles 34:2 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. (Josiah)

John 15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Meditatio: after silence this is what I feel these words mean for me, personally and possibly others:

– speak LORD for your friend is listening (Jesus calls us friends, not servants…time to update Eli/ Samuel’s good response) … can I hope to be the Lord’s resting place – if I do what is right in the sight of the Lord … the Holy One can rest in our hearts, souls and minds … a safe place where the One is trusted and welcome. What a sacred privilege! Maybe Paul is pointing to that possibility in 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, AND again in 2 Corinthians 6:16 For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean.”; Individuals and the community of faithful are temples of the living God … a resting place? I heard this morning an invitation to be the Lord’s resting place along with some advice for what I need to do to maintain that safe, resting place … an  invitation into a deeper intimacy … and life of separation from the things that distract us from being a resting place for the Lord and others. It’s another mystical paradox … be separate so I can be closer…to God, to myself, to others … maybe I can be a safe, resting place for all three.

Oratio: my prayer

– LORD help me to be a resting place for you… a place where you feel welcome just to be yourself with out any expectations or requests… a place to hang out and rest … a safe place, a welcoming place… help Linda and myself to create such a place at 834, using wisdom and love. LIYM grant my prayer… show me what needs to go from my life so I can be a place of rest for you & others and myself. Thanks for speaking to me and beingtogether today and always.

Contemplatio: 20 minutes of Centering Prayer

Traditionally these are the 4 “movements” / steps to Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading): read, meditate, pray and contemplate. I like the Latin, seems to connect me with centuries of praying with scripture this way. One can use these steps to listen to / pray with other readings, art, music, nature…the Holy One speaks to our souls in many ways … listenwiththeearofyourheart … Blessings of Peace, Joy and Health.

sent from Stephen’s ipad