January 31st - Reflection

Ruth 1:1-18 (NRSV)
Ruth, one of the poor

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she started to return with her daughters in law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters in law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters in law, "Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband." Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me." Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth clung to her.


So she said, "See, your sister in law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister in law." But Ruth said,
"Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!"

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Reflection
Here we can see the gospel story wrapped in an Old Testament package. Naomi had left her own country and went east to Moab due to famine in Israel. As she was in the country of Moab her husband and two married sons died. Moab was a country that worshipped the god Chemosh. Naomi's two sons had married women of Moab.

Since all was now lost for Naomi, it was time for her to leave the land that worshipped Chemosh and return to Israel, the land that worships the one true God. Naomi's daughter-in-laws at first wanted to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem meaning House of Bread. Orpah was convinced to stay in Moab, but Ruth chose to leave Moab and their god Chemosh and follow Naomi to Bethlehem where the one true God is worshipped.

This is a choice we all have to make. Follow a false god or follow  the one true God. Return to Moab or follow a disciple to Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

If you think about it this is the gospel story. John the baptist crying in the wilderness, repent and return to the Lord your God. Return from the false gods of selfishness, greed, lust and sin to the one true God who will be born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

And so many repent and return to God. Jesus is born in Bethlehen, the House of Bread. Jesus lives, heals, teaches, calls, then suffers and dies for the sins of all people. And in three days, Jesus rises victorious over sin and death to give new life in him.

Jesus, from Bethlehem, the House of Bread, brings eternal life to all who turn and leave the false gods and follow him the one true God. This Jesus descended from Ruth. Ruth who chose to follow Naomi and leave the false god Chemosh of Moab to walk to the one true God of Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

Ruth, a distant relative of Jesus. Ruth a distant disciple of Jesus, at the same time a distant mother in Jesus lineage, leading us away from false gods to Jesus. All from, Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and said, "Take, eat, for this is my body given for you. Again after supper he took the cup and said take, drink, this is my blood shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

The gospel story in the Old Testament. Turn from you old gods and go to that House of Bread, where the one true God, Jesus, graciously gives life in the bread and wine, the body and blood, that all may be saved. Repent and follow Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, day after day I must turn from all of the temptations of the false gods and turn and run to you. The House of Bread. Lead me as I follow you. Teach me, heal me, call me and send me to lead those you give to me to lead to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen