Daily Readings - Thu Jul 22 2021
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
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.