Scripture Text (NRSV)
3:1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek
some security for you, so that it may be well with you.
3:2 Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been
working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3:3 Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go
down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man
until he has finished eating and drinking.
3:4 When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and
uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do."
3:5 She said to her, "All that you tell me I will do."
4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came
together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son.
4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not
left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in
Israel!
4:15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old
age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than
seven sons, has borne him."
4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became
his nurse.
4:17 The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has
been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of
Jesse, the father of David.
Comments:
Naomi, who lost her husband and both her sons, still has the support
of her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi is resourceful in arranging
the marriage of Ruth to a wealthy kinsman who, in marrying Ruth, also
"redeems" by purchasing a small plot of land that belonged to Naomi's
husband.
Jewish law is unambiguous in its demand for the care of widows. In
this story, however, Ruth and Naomi have to plot and scheme to receive
what is rightfully theirs. The widow's action in Mark becomes a demand
for justice. In this passage, Boaz acknowledges his obligation and the
story attributes the birth of Obed to God's blessing. As in many
passages in Hebrew Scripture, just action results in blessing.
There was no jealousy shown by the other women. Boaz was wealthy and
available, yet when this new foreign woman came into their midst and
tricked Boaz into a relationship, they made no protestations, only
rejoiced that through Ruth Naomi would have family. Remarkable!
KyHoosierCat
I like this passage, heck, the whole story of Ruth, because it's so
welcoming to "odd" family relationships. Our churches are so full of
'non-nuclear' families, and despite Cinderella attempts to the
contrary, step-parents love their step-kids, mothers-in-law do often
feel very close to their daughters-in-law, and adoptive grandparents
are included in Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. But these
relationships aren't often celebrated in scripture, nor in church, and
I welcome the opportunity to celebrate them with this passage.
RevCes
Just kicking around an idea , still early, god will lead. Ruth and
mark the passages; " A tale of two widows" It was the best of times-it
was the worst of times.....it is a far, far better thing that i have
ever done before. Just early ramblings -Clerically blonde in
West Ohio
I like that 'different shaped families' bit - as in my congregation we
have a lot of widows and widowers, we have single moms, we have a
lesbian couple with foster kids, we have myself, with my wife, with
five kids - two adopted, three long-term foster, we have at least one
re-constituted family....
Actually, I can only think of one 'normal' family in the whole darn
regularly worshipping congregation of 25 - 30! ('normal' = two parents
of opposite gender with biological child/children at home (???!!!)).
We're on Remembrance/Vetrans - I think there is some kind of
connection in terms of peace being based on being able to accept
people, including different people (like the poor woman at the temple
in the Gospel, or like Ruth, the foreigner, who became a part of
David's lineage).
peace kent in Québec
I know it's getting late in the week to ask this, but does anyone know
of a dramatic reading version of the Ruth story? Since we did the All
Saints' texts last Sunday, I'm trying to cram this whole story into
one day! Maybe I'll just have to write one and have that be my sermon.
Laura in TX
Well, Laura in TX, if this were early June you could just read the
entire book of Ruth and call it the Shavuot traditional reading of
Ruth!
My understanding is the Jews read Ruth at Shavuot for several reasons.
1) Ruth was King David's great-grandmother, and King David was born
and died on Shavuot. 2) The book is set at harvest season, and Shavuot
is a harvest festival, a bringing of the first-fruits. 3) The book of
Ruth is all about thanksgiving and love, and so is Shavuot.
But, I don't know of any dramatic readings of Ruth. Sorry. Hope you
hear from someone who does.
KHC
I don't have a dramatic reading of Ruth. but, 3 years ago i dressed in
biblical clothing and dramatized ruth. I just read the scriptures over
and over and talked some things with it over in mind. I didnt write
anything down. I had my liturgist read scripture and I slipped out to
back of Church... I came in acting like talking to Orphah and and
Naomi, on the way there (using scripture is script, in my own words)
Talked about how we loved our mother in law, like a mother to us, and
talked how Orpah went back, how we embraced and cried...before going
to Naomi's home.
Then I served Communion in the end...
Clerically Blonde
Visions of "The Handmaid's Tale" dance in my head.
Sally
Thanks so much for your suggestions! As usual, I learned a
lot--Shavuot, Handmaid's Tale, etc. I've fished around for someone to
read part/all of it but have come up empty. Maybe if I ever get on
that schedule of being a few weeks ahead...!
Actually, the sermon seems to be morphing into a plea for us to be
inspired by this beautiful story, to love one another like that, to be
obedient like that, to trust and be brave like that, in a
forward-looking way that God can use to bring fruit.
I hope this isn't too much of a stretch, but it's what keeps coming to
me. I'm afraid this may be one of those times when I can't articulate
the complex swirl that's going on in my head and heart. I'm just going
to keep working it and praying it and looking to be led.
Thanks again--I don't know you, but you're such a valuable presence in
this part of my life.
Laura in TX
