Both these readings today are very familiar to me since I have written reflections on both the reading from Ruth and the Gospel passage. Briefly, Ruth is Naomi’s daughter in law and she is a native, non-Jew, from Moab who remains with her Mother in Law Naomi even after Naomi’s Husband and Ruth’s husband both die. Ruth travels with Naomi to Naomi’s native home in Bethlehem, even though Ruth has no family there. Ruth marries Boaz, she gives birth to Obed who is the Father of Jesse, who is the Father to King David. From whose lineage Jesus comes. So, Jesus is from a line who primary ancestor is a Gentile (a Moabite).
In the Gospel we hear Jesus saying call no man “Father” for you only have one Father in heaven and we are all brothers. It is from this reading that some people attack the Church for calling priests Father. But there is no criticism for calling the man who married your Mother, Father. We also see in the reading that Jesus says to call no person “Rabbi” or teacher. We also fail to see criticism for Jews calling their leaders Rabbi and I have failed to see an argument made to not call those who instruct our children to not be called “teacher”. Again, readings must be read in context. Jesus has just finished instructing his disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. How they preach one thing but do another. They place the burden of the Law on the Jews but they themselves use oral tradition to excuse themselves of the same need to follow Torah to the letter. In addition, he criticizes them for placing themselves in positions of honor at banquets and gatherings so that they can be seen as superior to the common people. It is more about attitude than it is about titles. There are priests today who use their position to their advantage to climb the administrative ladder of the Church or use it in the mistreatment of children.
But I wanted to focus today on another topic in the first reading. It is the practice of gleaning. We see it mentioned in the portion from the book of Ruth:
“Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,
“Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field
of anyone who will allow me that favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter,” and she went.
The field she entered to glean after the harvesters
happened to be the section belonging to Boaz
of the clan of Elimelech.” (Ruth 2:2-3)
What is gleaning? The historical definition is: gather leftover grain or other produce after a harvest. In fact God has commanded Israel to encourage gleaning as we see in Leviticus:
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:9-10)
Believe it or not, “Dumpster Diving” (retrieving food thrown away, usually be restaurants) is described as a modern form of gleaning. I have also seen it practiced by the restaurant chain, Panera, who routinely donates breads left over at the end of the day.
Ruth and Naomi were not financially in a good place when they arrived in Bethlehem. Sounds a bit familiar? 1000 years later another couple, Joseph and Mary, would enter the same town in similar straits. Ruth and Naomi have very little as they try to assimilate into Bethlehem society. Ruth asks Naomi to allow her to join the other less fortunate women of the town and glean from the local farmer’s fields. She happens to pick the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi.
After some scheming on the part of Ruth and Naomi, Boaz takes notice of Ruth and tells her to only glean from his fields. He becomes interested in Ruth. Boaz then assumes the role as a “Kinsman-Redeemer” in aiding Ruth. What is a Kinsman-Redeemer?
A “kinsman redeemer,” is one whose responsibility was to “act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need.” We also see that the role of kinsman-redeemer is found in Leviticus 25, in the case of an Israelite man’s death in which he fails to leave behind a son, the brother of the deceased man is commanded to take his widow as wife and both redeem the land and provide a son to carry on the deceased father’s name.
As I mentioned earlier, it is the good nature of Boaz, in his allowing Ruth to glean and in taking her in to his home, that results in the eventual birth of David and then Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. In a sense, then, Jesus is being foreshadowed by Boaz as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. Who is the relative that Jesus saves as Redeemer? It is the Church. It is the Church that is the bride, a hurting and destitute bride due to the ravages of sin, that Jesus takes as His own.
Gleaning. An interesting concept both in Biblical times and today. I think the important aspect of Gleaning is that it not only offers help to the needy but it does so in a way that promotes the dignity of work so that the needy can support themselves. Not relying simply on handouts. In “The Good Book Blog” a few examples of modern gleaming can be seen:
“For example, TengoInternet in Austin, TX, built some extra office spaces and deliberately set them aside for nonprofits to work without rent or supervision. Square Peg Development in Seattle, WA, re-envisioned itself as a construction company that invites people from the margins, hiring workers with a history of homelessness, addiction, and criminal records. I also know of a laundromat in Mission Viejo, CA, that cleans interviewing outfits free-of-charge for unemployed job-hunters. Such initiatives can transform a business into “a community of people who show hospitality and empathy by creating opportunities for those on the margins to engage and flourish” (p. 32).”
I know personally I can learn quite a bit in terms of noticing those in need and getting much more creative in providing self-help opportunities for others. I pray that we all can “glean” some innovative ways to help others help themselves.
