Joy and Exultation, in the Presence of God
There are two optional readings that we can read for the First Reading, today. One is from the Songs of Songs and the other from Zephaniah. Both speak of Joy and exultation, the Song speaks of Joy in the presence of our beloved, and Zeph speaks of the joy that comes because God has taken away our reproach/our stay outside the camp, and made us whole by bringing us back into His presence. Here you should remember, Adam/Eve were cast out of God’s Presence.