Open Word

FIRST READING

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Verse 6. Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. Verse 7. Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

PSALM

Psalm 16

A Miktam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.

I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.

Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.

The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.

I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

SECOND READING

John 20:11-20

Verse 11. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb, Verse 12. and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet. Verse 13. “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.” Verse 14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus. Verse 15. “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Verse 16. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” ( which means “Teacher” ). Verse 17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” Verse 18. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her. Verse 19. It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. Verse 20. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.