Daily Readings - Thu Jul 22 2021

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

The first reading from the Song of Solomon paints a vivid picture of longing and love. The bride searches for her beloved throughout the night, driven by a deep yearning that cannot be satisfied until she finds him. This poetic passage is often interpreted as a metaphor for the soul’s search for God—a reminder that our spiritual journey is marked by moments of seeking, questioning, and ultimately finding divine love. The bride’s persistence and determination reflect the kind of faith and devotion we are called to embody in our own relationship with God. In the Gospel, Mary Magdalene’s story mirrors this theme of seeking and finding. She arrives at the tomb early in the morning, her heart heavy with grief, only to discover that Jesus’ body is gone. Her weeping and confusion are met by the presence of angels and, finally, the risen Jesus himself. Mary’s encounter with Jesus is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, God is present. Just as the bride in the Song of Solomon finds her beloved, Mary finds the Lord, and her sorrow turns to joy. This passage invites us to reflect on our own experiences of loss and searching, and to trust that God’s presence can transform even the most painful moments. These readings call us to embrace a life of faith and perseverance. Like the bride and Mary Magdalene, we are all seekers on a spiritual journey. There will be times when we feel lost or uncertain, but it is precisely in those moments that we must hold onto hope and trust in God’s plan. Let us allow the example of Mary Magdalene to inspire us to seek the Lord with courage and openness, knowing that He will reveal Himself to us in ways we least expect. May we, too, experience the joy of finding Him and share that joy with others, just as Mary shared the news of the resurrection with the disciples.