Sincerely, Lovebombed and Looking for the One

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Reading 1 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.

Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds?  Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD, 
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations. 
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

 

 

Sequence (Optional)

At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
'Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of his own nation
Saw him hang in desolation
Till his spirit forth he sent.

O sweet Mother!  font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you his pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,
Mourning him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.

By the cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours.
Wounded with his every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In his very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In his awful judgment day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence,
Be your Mother my defense,
Be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
May my soul your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally.
Amen.  (Alleluia)

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the Martyr’s crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

or

Luke 2:33-35

Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Sincerely, Lovebombed and Looking for the One

September 16, 2026 // Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31-13:13

Reflect on the Word //

The word “lovebomb” sounds like a wonderful explosion of love—something I as a romantic at heart would enjoy—but the term is more damaging than beautiful.

When I first started seriously dating after graduate school, I had thought I had found “the one.” He was kind, intelligent, and very vocal about how much he liked me and saw a future with me. I was elated! I was loved

But I wasn’t; that egregious outflow of compliments, reassuring words, and tender actions didn’t last longer than a few dates when he randomly ended things with me via text and a few curt words. 

I had been lovebombed, not loved.

Luckily for me, today’s First Reading holds a divine example of true love that I frequently turn to in times like these.

Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians describes what true love looks like—one that pursues, one that is ever-lasting, and one that does not fade quickly after flowery words and performative actions. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated,” and so on (1 Corinthians 13:4). That guy who made me feel so much was definitely not patient—he just left—and his love was surely pompous and inflated in hindsight. 

Saint Paul’s definition of love—even-tempered, selfless, and truth-seeking—was everything I wanted and more, and I often found myself questioning, Where in my life will I find a partner with all these traits and green flags, a love I could believe in? And the answer is and always will be Jesus Christ Himself. He is the true Love Who is patient with you, sees you for who you are, and intentionally loves you in all the ways you yearn for. Jesus “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” and He “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13: 7-8).

Sister, no matter your vocation, let Jesus’ love explode all over your life in a good way! Believe in His words and actions because He will never stop pursuing you until you are His.

Relate to the Lord // Read 1 Corinthians 13 and replace the word love with the Name of Jesus. What stands out to you?

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Before You Go…

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