C
christopher-m
Guest
Today’s first Liturgical reading is from the Song of Songs, chapter 2, verses 8-14, wherein God speaks of “pruning” His lover – His chosen people – so she will bear much fruit.
(I think the Song of Songs is the most beautiful book in the Old Testament, and is the most elegant description of God’s relationship with His people.)
Any gardner can tell you that pruning is necessary for healthy and productive plants and trees.
Most of us probably have gone through some type of pruning in our lives – allowing God to trim away the bad stuff, so we can be more “fruitful” in His Kingdom here on Earth. But it sure hurts to let go!
Song of Songs 2: 8-14
8 Hark! my lover-here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
9 My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
10 My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
11 "For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
14 “O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”
(I think the Song of Songs is the most beautiful book in the Old Testament, and is the most elegant description of God’s relationship with His people.)
Any gardner can tell you that pruning is necessary for healthy and productive plants and trees.
Most of us probably have gone through some type of pruning in our lives – allowing God to trim away the bad stuff, so we can be more “fruitful” in His Kingdom here on Earth. But it sure hurts to let go!
Song of Songs 2: 8-14
8 Hark! my lover-here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
9 My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
10 My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
11 "For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
14 “O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”