Daily Readings for July 22, 2019

1st READING 

The Song of Songs is really about the love of a young couple discovering their love for each other that is compared to God’s love for us. Poets depict a powerful image of God pursuing His beloved. To love someone means to endure in your commitment for as long as it takes. The saints are great examples of enduring love. May God give us the grace to commit to love Him and others like the saints did.

Song of Songs 3:1-4 (or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 or Exodus 14:5-18)

1 On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves — I sought him but I did not find him. 2 I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city. Have you seen him whom my heart loves? 4 I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. I took hold of him and would not let him go till I should bring him to the home of my mother, to the room of my parent.

PSALM

Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (or Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6)

R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

2 O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 3 Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 4 for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 5 Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 6 As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 8 You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. 9 My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)

GOSPEL 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene. In today’s Gospel, she is the first to receive the news of Jesus’ resurrection. She tells the Apostles, “I have seen the Lord!” Her proclamation is one that we can make our own. We have experienced and “seen” the Lord in faith. Our relationship with Jesus grows through faith experiences and becomes the basis for our witness.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb. 

John 20:1-2, 11-18 (or Matthew 12:38-42)

1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 11 Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary of Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

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