Hi friends!
This is Sue,
And welcome to this week's Guided Lectio Divina practice,
Rooted in the Gospel of Thomas.
Now,
Remember,
In this practice we are not analyzing the text we hear.
Instead,
We are allowing it to speak to us,
To take root in our hearts,
To see how the divine is moving in us and speaking to us,
That new arisings might emerge in our lives.
So,
Let's begin by settling into a gentle stillness.
Feel the breath that moves through you,
Just grounding you in this moment.
Breathe in deeply and exhale fully.
Close your eyes and rest in the quiet.
Just set the stage to allow the mystery of the sacred to open before you.
Trust that you are held in love,
Even as you journey into the unknown.
And,
In this space of stillness,
Of receptivity,
Of rooted groundedness,
Let us take in today's passage and enter into its wisdom and spirit together.
The Gospel of Thomas,
Version 42.
Yeshua said,
Be passers-by.
Yeshua said,
Be passers-by.
Listen to these words again.
Just let them gently settle in your heart.
Be passers-by.
These two words carry within them a quiet yet profound invitation,
Inviting you to let go.
Walk lightly through life.
Just feel the simplicity and the depth of this call.
Be passers-by.
What stirs within you as you hear these words?
As you reflect on this invitation,
What does it mean to you to be a passer-by?
What does it mean to move through the world with a sense of detachment,
Presence,
And ease?
This is not about ignoring life,
But rather embracing it,
Without clinging to any one moment.
You just pass by,
Experiencing the beauty,
The pain,
The joy.
You experience it and live it fully,
And yet you don't grasp and hold on too tightly.
What in your life do you cling to?
What weight do you carry that might be released if you could simply pass by?
Consider the freedom in passing by.
Where are you invited to let go?
You release control and walk through life with openness,
Curiosity,
And trust.
What would it mean for you to live as a passer-by?
Fully present,
Yet free from attachment.
Just let your heart respond to this reflection.
Perhaps you feel called to pray for the grace to let go,
To pass by with peace and presence,
Rather than holding on too tightly.
Maybe you ask for wisdom in knowing when to release,
What no longer serves you,
And when to fully inhabit each moment before passing through.
Maybe your response is one of gratitude.
Gratitude for the freedom that comes with being a passer-by,
Gratitude for the freedom that comes with being a passer-by,
For the ability to engage with life without being consumed by it.
Let your response just arise naturally,
Whether in silent prayer,
Spoken words,
Or in the quiet surrender of your heart.
Now just enter into the silence,
Because in this stillness you are already a passer-by.
There is no need to grasp or hold on.
Simply be present to the moment,
Knowing that all things pass.
Imagine yourself grounded and rooted at peace,
As life moves through you,
And around you,
And within you,
Whatever comes.
And you are free to hold it all lightly,
Trusting that you are always held,
Held in divine love.
Just rest in the spaciousness of this truth.
Allow the quietness to deepen your awareness of how deeply held you are in divine power,
In divine safety,
And in divine love.
An awareness that allows you to pass through each moment with grace,
Knowing that you are part of a larger flow,
A journey that continues without end.
And I invite you to stay here for as long as you feel drawn,
Resting in the peace of simply being a passer-by.
A passer-by.
