Links for today’s readings:
Mar 27 Read: Song of Songs 3 Listen: (1:48) Read: Psalm 72 Listen: (2:21)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Mar 28 Read: Song of Songs 4 Listen: (2:46) Read: Matthew 1 Listen: (3:29)
Mar 29 Read: Song of Songs 5 Listen: (2:43) Read: Matthew 2 Listen: (3:18)
Scripture Focus: Song of Songs 3.1-2
1 All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
John 20.15-16
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Reflection: Seeking the Lover of Our Souls
By John Tillman
Charles Wesley’s hymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” might not sound scandalous now, but early listeners were uncomfortable with its portrayal of an intimate, loving relationship to Jesus. Some Christians today are similarly bothered by modern songs that sing passionately about loving God and being loved by him.
Every once in a while, I have wondered if a new worship song would be better sung to a prom date than God, but scripture teems with more direct romantic metaphors than any modern hymn. Any metaphor can go too far, but in general, expressing love for God using the metaphor of human relationships is nothing to be squeamish about.
Based on this passage from Song of Songs, many have drawn parallels between the Bride’s search for her lover and Mary Magdalene’s search for Jesus’ body.
The bride dreams of her groom. She races through the city, asking watchmen to find him but they cannot answer. Suddenly, she finds her love and takes him home with her to an intimate place. But the “dream lover” is not the true lover. An unknown stranger approaches from the wilderness. Then, she recognizes him! Solomon has come to find her, in a glorious carriage constructed for the occasion. The public ceremony and spectacle involve the whole city. The reality was greater than her fantasy.
Mary seeks Jesus at the garden tomb, but cannot find him. The guards are still, mute, or absent and cannot answer. Mary expects to find and care for Jesus’ dead body, but an unknown stranger approaches her in the garden. Then, she recognizes him! Jesus, resurrected and glorified, finds and cares for her. The reality was greater than what she imagined.
The bride in Song of Songs was probably a real person. She represents individuals longing for marriage and love as well as God’s beloved people, Israel and (to Christians) the Church. Mary is not a “lover” of Jesus in the romantic sense but she represents all who love him and seek him.
Regardless of gender, we can all find ourselves in both these biblical women. These women are portraits of those for whom Jesus is the lover of our souls. To paraphrase St. Augustine, we are made for Jesus, and our hearts are restless until they rest in him.
Love him because he loved you. Seek him and he will find you. Reality will be greater than your imaginings.
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
They then said to him, “John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees, too, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus replied, “Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then, in those days, they will fast.” — Luke 5:33–35
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: A “Righteous” Government?
What principles do you see in this picture of a righteous government? A righteous government creates stability and safety without resorting to brutality or oppression.
Consider Supporting Our Work
It’s challenging, even in Christian spaces to find content that isn’t monetized by advertising. We need support to keep our work ad-free. Please consider becoming a donor.