Catholic Commentary on Song of Songs 2

"My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies." (Song of Songs 2:16)

Springtime and Mutual Belonging

The beloved speaks: I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. His banner over me is love. He calls to her: arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me. See, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come. The cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling. Then the declaration of mutual belonging: my beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.

The Catechism identifies the mutual belonging of the Song as the image of the covenant - the complete self-gift of each to the other that mirrors the divine self-gift in the Incarnation (CCC 2332).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, my beloved is mine and I am his. The mutual belonging that the Song celebrates is the image of every covenant: the complete giving of self that is also a complete receiving. In marriage, this is the total self-gift that constitutes the sacrament. In baptism, it is the belonging to God that is also God's belonging to us. Arise, come - the invitation is from both sides.

Prayer

Lord God, you are ours and we are yours. Let the mutual belonging of your covenant with us shape every human covenant we enter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
The Bride’s Admiration
The Bride
 
1 I am a rose of Sharon,* 2:1 Sharon Plain is a region in the coastal plain of Israel
a lily of the valley.
The Bridegroom
 
2 Like a lily among the thorns
is my darling among the maidens.
The Bride
 
3 Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He has brought me to the house of wine,† 2:4 That is, the banquet hall
and his banner over me is love.
 
5 Sustain me with raisins;
refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.
 
6 His left hand is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.
7 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you
by the gazelles and does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until the time is right.
 
8 Listen! My beloved approaches.
Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look, he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.
 
10 My beloved calls to me,
“Arise, my darling.
Come away with me, my beautiful one.
11 For now the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers have appeared in the countryside;
the season of singing ‡ 2:12 Or pruning has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come away, my darling;
come away with me, my beautiful one.”
The Bridegroom
 
14 O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the crevices of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your countenance is lovely.
The Friends
 
15 Catch for us the foxes-
the little foxes that ruin the vineyards-
for our vineyards are in bloom.
The Bride
 
16 My beloved is mine and I am his;
he pastures his flock among the lilies.
17 Before the day breaks and shadows flee,
turn, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.§ 2:17 Or the rugged mountains

*2:1 2:1 Sharon Plain is a region in the coastal plain of Israel

†2:4 2:4 That is, the banquet hall

‡2:12 2:12 Or pruning

§2:17 2:17 Or the rugged mountains

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