Daily Readings - Fri Jul 22 2022

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 expressions of love and devotion. The first reading from the Song of Solomon portrays the bride’s relentless search for her beloved, symbolizing the deep longing of the soul for God. Her journey through the night, despite not finding him immediately, reflects the perseverance required in our spiritual lives. The second reading from John’s Gospel shifts our focus to Mary Magdalene, whose unwavering dedication leads her to the tomb of Jesus. Her tears of sorrow turn to joy as she encounters the risen Christ, embodying the transformative power of faith and love. Both narratives highlight the universal human experience of seeking and finding. The bride’s search in Song of Solomon mirrors Mary’s quest in John’s Gospel, illustrating that our journey toward God is often marked by both struggle and grace. These stories remind us that faith involves persistence and trust, even in the face of uncertainty. Just as Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus brought her joy and purpose, our own encounters with God can transform our lives, providing us with the strength to face challenges and the courage to share His love with others. As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we seek God in our own lives. Do we approach Him with the same persistence as the bride and Mary Magdalene? Let us remember that God is always present, even when we cannot see Him. May we, like Mary, embrace the joy of encountering Christ and share that joy with others. In doing so, we fulfill our calling to be witnesses of His love and to live as children of the light, guided by the hope of eternal life.