This Sunday, we get to experience a book of the Bible that we only hear twice in the whole 3-year cycle of readings that we use on Sundays (called the Revised Common Lectionary) – the Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs. In both instances, we read this section – chapter 2, verses 8 to 13. 

The Song of Solomon is a fascinating, short book from the Hebrew Scriptures. It is a piece of poetry that celebrates the love between two romantic partners, in a physical, sensual, even erotic way. Many have interpreted this book as an allegory of the love that God has for God’s people. Still, I think that this, though a good and beautiful interpretation, is secondary to the reading that celebrates the goodness and sacredness of this kind of romantic, physical love. 

For Jessica and my wedding on June 24th, we chose the second half of this passage from chapter 2 as one of our readings:
My beloved speaks and says to me; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Unbeknownst to us, it was also the text that our preacher chose to preach on. 

He did a wonderful job, and in his sermon, he spoke about how in this book, there is so much imagery that is drawn from the natural world. Even in this short passage, there are stags, gazelle, flowers, rain, turtledoves, vines and fig trees. These are earthy, sensory, embodied images. 

Ultimately, his point, a point that I resonate with, is that all of this love is intertwined. Something we see in Jesus’ answer to the question of the greatest commandment from Matthew 22 – “to love the Lord your God…and to love your neighbour as yourself.” 

I pray that this reading, this book may help us remember and realize that the love of God, the love and care of neighbour, of friends, of enemies, of partner or spouse, as well as the love and care for all creation, is tied up inextricably together.  

Thanks be to God!

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