Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’
My wife, Anna, and I went on a second honeymoon. We came back with great memories and a special surprise. You might think it was fine jewelry, but it wasn’t. We came back with a special little dog, a West Highland Terrier named, Lexie.
Lexie was a loving little dog but as a puppy was full of mischief. After we came back from the trip, we were very busy. I had just started a new Bible study course and of course the new puppy needed training and attention. I sit in a love seat in the living room and there was always room for a dog or a cat to come up for loving and quality time as I did my study. However, I made the mistake of leaving my Bible on the floor and Lexie neatly shredded the Book of Ruth out of my Bible. Well, the Bible was ten-years old, and I probably needed a new one anyways. We kept the dog and purchased a new Bible.
Naomi kissed and hugged Orpah goodbye, but Ruth would not leave her. In today’s gospel Jesus says, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mother-in-law jokes aside; families stood together, because relationships were a part of emotional and physical survival. Ruth saw in Naomi the two commandments that Jesus spoke. Love of God and love of neighbor. Also love of family.
The Book of Ruth and our Gospel reading today is about relationships. Naomi had lost both her husband and two sons. In Biblical times she was destitute. There was no security blanket or retirement fund. If her husband died there were her two sons to help her in her old age. She loved both her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi knew that both her daughters-in-law were young enough to remarry. They had a chance of survival but not Naomi. Naomi’s name meant “Sweet” and she thought that she should change her name to Mara meaning “Bitter”(Ruth 1:20).
Over the years every one of our four children have lived with us for one reason or another. Neither Anna nor I have approved of some of the choices they have made in their lives. There are mixed reviews on the grand children, but the great grandkids are great. We live in a much different world today, but in ways not very different. we can look at a homeless person today and walk away. We have no relationship. “No skin in the game”.
Relationships with God and our fellow man is the love that Jesus is speaking. Ruth discovered these relationships in Naomi. Naomi said, “See now,” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” Ruth refused to go. Ruth took a leap of faith because of the faith she saw in Naomi. As a result Ruth became the great-grandmother of David.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for peace!
