February 1st - Reflection

Ruth 2:1-16 (NRSV)
Ruth, one of the hungry

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor." She said to her, "Go, my daughter." So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you." They answered, "The Lord bless you." Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "To whom does this young woman belong?" The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment."


Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?" But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother in law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!" Then she said, "May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants."

At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, "Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her."

Reflection
The name Boaz takes on the meaning "in him is strength." In Boaz, a wealthy man, we see how he honors his workers by caring for them. Boaz also cares for those who come after his workers to glean the left overs. Boaz seems to be a humble yet mighty caring man. It seems to me in this passage that God was at work in Boaz. And God was at work in and through Ruth.

Sometimes God brings a couple of people together to work his will and his way. I'm sure you can recall a situation when God has worked through another person and yourself to build faith in both of you. Ruth is new to these people and this land that she followed Naomi into. And Boaz was one of those people sent to Ruth to build her trust in God. Ruth had left her home land and her home god, following Naomi out of her trust and hope for a relationship only God could build. And Boaz builds Ruth's faith in this new God of Israel through his encouragement and loving care.

We also have come to God as foreigners. We have come to God and God has come to us through Jesus. As we walk in this faith, may we find and serve the Boaz's of our lives. And may we likewise build the faith and hope of a wanderer or even one who gleans the edges of the fields. May we invite all those to that wonderful feast that we celebrate as disciples of Chirst.

Prayer
Lord, I give you thanks for your activity in my life. Bless me with those you send to me to lead and guide me. Permit me to guide another to you. --- Amen