Lectio divina. In the previous lectios, we have examined how to understand the Bible properly

• immerse yourself in the verse deeply, to understand the images
  
• listen for resonances to other parts of scripture, and
  
• study biblical history and culture to understand references

We have so far left the contemplatio, contemplative part of the lectio unfulfilled. As any teacher knows, however, the student know something only when s/he can reformulate information in a new and original way. When we meditate on the Bible, we seek insights. Insights represent the budding of the fruit on the tree; unless they grow, they will be spoiled by the first frost. The fruit only reaches maturity when insights are expressed in a new song. Or, as the gospels put it, Jesus told his disciples...

Therefore, every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. (Matthew 13: 52)

• Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
  or stand in the way of sinners
  or sit in the seat of mockers.
  
• But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
  and on his law he meditates day and night.
  
• He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
  which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
  Whatever he does prospers.
  
• Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
  
• Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
  nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
  
• For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
  but the way of the wicked will perish.

Meditatio (meditation). The psalm presents three kinds of evil-- a roaming evil, a blocking evil, and a disparaging evil. The one who does the will of God is settled, but growing. And in verses 3-6, we see that whatever the wicked do is insubstantial, impermanent, while good lasts. As oil flees from water, the wicked are incapable of being associated with God's work of judgment and justice (Hebrew, sadaq, equivalent to righteousness). God watches over only those who do justice.

Oratio. We thanked God for having the opportunity to demonstrate His Presence on earth. We regretted that our own pride, greed and anger block the Presence. We thanked God for reviving us from sin. And we asked God to guard us from sin, energize us to do good, love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Contemplatio. As we contemplate in silence, we become like the tree that the Psalm describes. Silent, quiet of mind, we see the world anew:

Fruit from Psalm 1.

These men, running up and down,
Doing their wicked deeds,
Blocking others from doing good,
Or dragging them down with sneers...
I have seen generations of them pass away,
While I remain, silently drinking in God's word.
The seasons outside may be dry and hot,
So that others faint and fail.
But my thirst is quenched from within,
Invisibly satisfied through my roots.
Unlike the wicked, I don't do much:
I cast the shade in which the traveler rests,
I grow the fruit that the hungry eat,
I breathe out the oxygen that gives life.
I, who live on God's righteousness alone,
I am part of God's Presence on earth
I am rest and food and breath,
giving freely to the just and unjust alike.
Unlike the wicked, I know God
and he makes me to prosper even in adversity.