Hi,
This is Mark Gludman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in-docs.
Welcome to this Lectio Divina contemplation on Isaiah 55 verses 1 to 3.
This passage,
Which is sometimes known as the Great Invitation,
Calls us to give thought to two key things.
First,
Who it is that is invited to partake of what God has to offer.
And second,
What is it that truly satisfies us.
In this world where so many are looking for something to try and quench the deep yearnings of our heart,
And we're in response to this yearning so many tempt us to buy into what they're offering to quench that thirst,
We owe it to ourselves to not be let away from those things that will truly satisfy us.
In this passage,
We're invited to eat and drink,
To listen and live,
And to experience an everlasting unitedness with the divine that immerses us in love.
As you contemplate this passage today,
May God bring out for you that gift being offered that will meet that need you have right now to quench,
To satisfy,
To delight,
To love,
And to save.
Before we begin,
Let's just pause for a moment in prayer.
Gracious God who desires to meet our needs where we are.
We pray that you would open our eyes,
Our ears,
Our minds to hear,
To see,
And to allow that gift that you want to grant to us today to sink deep into our hearts and our souls as we spend this time in contemplation of your word.
Be with us.
Amen.
So I invite you now just to be still,
To breathe deeply for a moment,
And then we will begin our contemplation on Isaiah chapter 55 verses one through three.
Come all you who are thirsty,
Come to the waters,
And you who have no money,
Come,
Buy and eat.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen,
Listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me.
Show me that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
My faithful love promised to David.
Come all you who are thirsty,
Come to the waters,
And you who have no money,
Come,
Buy and eat.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen,
Listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me.
Show me that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
My faithful love promised to David.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without cost.
Come,
All you who are thirsty,
Come to the waters,
And you who have no money,
Come,
Buy and eat.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen,
Listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me.
Hear me that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
My faithful love promised to David.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without cost.
Come,
All you who are thirsty,
Come to the waters,
And you who have no money,
Come,
Buy and eat.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen,
Listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me.
Hear me that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
My faithful love promised to David.
Come,
Buy wine and milk without cost.
And as we rise from this time of prayer,
I pray along with the Apostle Paul that you being rooted and established in love may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
And may grace,
Peace and love be with you,
My friend,
This day and always.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
