Daily Readings - Mon Jul 22 2019
First Reading - Song of Solomon 3.1-4a or 2 Corinthians 5.14-17
Song of Solomon
1On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not.2I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not.3The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"4Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.
2 Corinthians
14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
John
1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).17Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.
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.