Daily Readings - Mon Jul 22 2019

First Reading - Song of Solomon 3.1-4a or 2 Corinthians 5.14-17

¹Bride: On my bed, throughout the night, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him²I will rise up, and I will circle through the city. Through the side streets and thoroughfares, I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him³The watchers who guard the city found me: "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?⁴When I had passed by them a little, I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not release him, until I would bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me

2 Corinthians

Chapter 5

¹⁴For the charity of Christ urges us on, in consideration of this: that if one died for all, then all have died¹⁵And Christ died for all, so that even those who live might not now live for themselves, but for him who died for them and who rose again¹⁶And so, from now on, we know no one according to the flesh. And though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer¹⁷So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new

John

Chapter 20

¹Then on the first Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb¹¹But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bowed down and gazed into the tomb¹²And she saw two Angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been placed, one at the head, and one at the feet¹³They say to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have placed him.¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus¹⁵Jesus said to her: "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?" Considering that it was the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have moved him, tell me where you have placed him, and I will take him away.¹⁶Jesus said to her, "Mary!" And turning, she said to him, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher)¹⁷Jesus said to her: "Do not touch me. For I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them: ‘I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God.’ ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and these are the things that he said to me.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of love, faith, and encounter. The first reading from the Song of Solomon presents a passionate dialogue between two lovers, often interpreted as an allegory for the soul's longing for God. The bride's relentless search for her beloved, despite the darkness and uncertainty, mirrors our own spiritual journey. Her determination to seek and find her love, even in the face of obstacles, underscores the depth of her devotion and the transformative power of true connection. The Gospel reading from John 20 shifts our focus to Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus. Her journey to the tomb, driven by grief and love, leads to a moment of profound recognition and renewal. The exchange between Mary and Jesus highlights the theme of seeking and finding, as Mary's tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy upon recognizing the Lord. This passage reminds us that our faith journey is not one of passive waiting but of active seeking, and that even in moments of doubt, God reveals Himself to those who seek Him with an open heart. These readings, though from different contexts, share a common thread—the transformative encounter with the divine. The Song of Solomon invites us to embrace the persistence and passion of the seeker, while the Gospel story calls us to recognize the presence of God in our lives, even in unexpected ways. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, may we embody the bride's relentless pursuit of love and Mary's unwavering faith. Let us seek God with courage and openness, trusting that our encounters with Him will bring us joy, renewal, and a deeper sense of purpose. In doing so, we are called to share this transformative love with others, just as Mary Magdalene shared the Good News with the disciples. May our hearts, like hers, be filled with the joy of recognizing the Lord, and may we carry this joy into the world, touching the lives of all we meet.