Daily Readings - Wed Jul 22 2020

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 of seeking and finding, each offering insights into our spiritual journey. The first reading from Song of Solomon presents a poetic allegory of the soul's longing for divine love. The bride's relentless search for her beloved symbolizes our own quest for a deeper connection with God, emphasizing perseverance and devotion. This text, often seen as an allegory of divine love, reminds us that our spiritual seeking is a noble and necessary pursuit. The Gospel reading from John recounts Mary Magdalene's emotional encounter with the risen Jesus. Her unwavering dedication and the transformative moment of recognition highlight the personal and intimate relationship we can have with Christ. This narrative, set in the context of Easter, underscores themes of resurrection and new life, inviting us to reflect on the transformative power of encountering Jesus. Both readings encourage us to embrace our journey of seeking God with faith and hope. Just as the bride and Mary found their beloved in unexpected ways, we too can trust that our seeking is not in vain. Our daily lives, marked by moments of uncertainty, can be transformed by the assurance that God reveals Himself in His time. Let us approach each day with the persistence of the bride and the devotion of Mary, trusting in the promise of encounter and renewal. May our hearts remain open to the transformative power of Christ's presence, guiding us to live as witnesses of His love.