SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
NAACUS Women Ministry Presents Ruth, one of the leading Ladies in the Bible.
When we hear about Leading Ladies, we often think about glamour, fame, success and beauty, but probably not sacrifice, spirituality, and asceticism. But these leading ladies from the biblical point of view are all about leading us closer to God and deeper in our faith. In this article you will learn about a remarkable leading Lady called Ruth, who even though she bore no child for her late Jewish husband, chose to stay with Naomi her poor mother in-law. She speaks to the line to which she is most remembered “wherever you go, l shall go, wherever you lodge, l shall lodge. . .”. We shall learn how God rewarded her piety, steadfastness, long suffering devotion and love and made her the ancestor of extraordinary descendants including our Lord Jesus Christ. Like our Mother Mary who we encountered with Elizabeth and others, and Esther who we encountered with others as well, we encounter Ruth with others too, including Naomi her poor unfortunate mother in-law who buried a husband and two sons with no grandchild, in a foreign land. Ruth teaches us how to live and love when it is convenient or not, through thick and thin. Like her, we may have to work hard in a strange place out of love. Through the story of Ruth, we learn that holy plans are often worked through human e\desire, and need, that these same elements inform God’s own designs.
The Book of Ruth is the first of the three books named after a woman in the Catholic Bible and one of the two in the Protestant King James Bible. The other books are Esther which is in both the Catholic and Protestant Bibles and Judith which is only in the Catholic Bible. Ruth is however the only non-Jewish, non-public office holder woman with name to a book. The summary of the book of Ruth is God’s reward of filial piety and love demonstrated in our everyday living through thick and thin.
We are called to holiness (sainthood) not in isolation but in our moment by moment encounter with others when it is convenient and when it is not just like Ruth and our other heroines.
Bible Narrative and Reflection
Chapter 1.
Naomi in Moab (Ruth 1: 1-18): The book of Ruth (meaning friend) begins with the narrative about Naomi, a Jewish woman who emigrated from Bethlehem in Judea to the land of Moab with her husband Elimelech (meaning My God is King) and two sons Mahlon (meaning infirmity, a Harp, pardon) and Chilion(meaning complete, finished, perfect) as a result of famine in their own land (Ruth 1: 1-2). Naomi’s husband Elimelech died leaving her with their two sons, who later married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. (Ruth 1:3-4). When Ruth lived about 10 years in the land of the Moab, the two sons also died childless (Ruth 1: 5). When Ruth learnt that “the Lord has visited his people and given them food” she decided to go back to Bethlehem and her two daughters in law wanted to go with her (Ruth1:6). Naomi’s attempt to dissuade her daughters in law from returning with her to Israel worked with Orpah but Ruth remained adamant and returned to Bethlehem with her. The people were excited about Naomi’s return but filled with sorrow, she told the them not to call her Naomi (which means pleasant) but Mara (meaning bitter (Ex 15:23)) “… since the Lord has pronounced against me and the Almighty has brough evil against me” (Ruth 1:21 -22). Although our focus in this exhortation is Ruth, Naomi inspires us none the less. If any of the following questions relate to us, then we can find answers from Ruth and Naomi.
Reflections:
The Return to Bethlehem (Ruth1 19- 22)
Ruth an embodiment of long-suffering filial steadfastness, piety, devotion, and love
Ruth and Opah decided to go to Israel with Naomi after her sons, their spouses died. However, Naomi urged them to go back to their families for better chance to remarry. While Orpah agreed and went back, Ruth’s response was, “Do not ask me to forsake or abandon you! For where you go I will go, where ever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Wherever you die I will die and there be buried, May the Lord do so and so to me more besides, if aught but death separate me from you”. Ruth pledged total and absolute commitment to a mother in law who had absolutely nothing to offer.
If there is one thing we can take from Ruth, let it be to love without motive or limit because such is pleasing to God and is never unrewarded.
Chapter 2
Ruth encounter Boaz (Ruth 2: 1-23)
Ruth teaches us not only self-awareness but how to manage ourselves and produce the most effective outcome for all. She did not have the power to save the world like Mother Mary nor her entire people like Queen Esther but she was aware that she could help a helpless old widow through her youth, energy and love. She was willing to go to the end of the world with her to save her and love her. We see this in her relationship with Naomi, Boaz, Overseer and in what the community have to say about her.
Arriving Bethlehem at the beginning of harvest meant that Naomi and Ruth can only rely on others to survive. Ruth tookthe initiate and said to Naomi, “Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field of anyone who will allow me that favor”. Coincidentally (or by divine design) she walked into the field belonging to her late father in law, Elimelech’s kinsman, Boazand the overseer let her glean (Ruth 2 :2). Boaz came from Bethlehem to the field, greeted his workers, “The Lord be with you” and asked them who the gleaning girl was, and they told him that she was Naomi’s Moabite daughter in law. The overseer told Boaz that, “ She asked leave to gather the gleanings into sheaves after the harvesters; and ever since she came this morning, she has remained here until now with scarcely a moment of rest” (Ruth 2:4 -7). Boaz addressed Ruthas, “my daughter!” and told her to remain with his workers on his fields though all the harvest and invited her to share his meal. When Ruth questioned why she is so favored by Boaz who she just met, he told her that he heard of her kindness and love to Naomi her mother in law (Ruth 2: 8- 10). Boaz blessed Ruth with many words of prayer, “…. May you receive a full reward from the lord of Israel under whose wings you have come for refuge” and he instructed his workers to let Ruth glean among the sheaves and not scold her (Ruth 2: 11- 16). At the end of that day Ruth took home not just the grains she gleaned but some lunch she saved for Naomi, who blessed the one who took notice of her daughter in law even before she realized that the person was their kinsman Boaz (Ruth 2 17-23).
Chapter 3
Ruth’s second Encounter with Boaz (Ruth 3:1-18)
. Naomi said to Ruth, “my daughter, I must seek a home for you that will please you…. Is not Boaz…our relative” Ruth 3: 1-2). Naomi instructed Ruth to go lie down at the feet of Boaz at the threshing floor and wait for his instruction and Ruth did just as she was told (Ruth 3 3-6). When Boaz woke up in the middle of the night and realized that someone laid at his feet, he inquired as to who she was. Ruth replied, “I am your servant Ruth. Spread the corner of your cloak over me, for you are my next of kin”. Boaz blessed Ruth again for her loyalty and for upholding their tradition. He reassured her that he will first consult with a closer relative and if he does not claim her, he will do so. (Ruth 3: 7-13). Boaz gave Ruth a very generous six measures of barley according to Ruth because, “he did not want me to come back to my mother-in-law empty handed”.
Chapter 4
Boaz Marries Ruth.
Boaz wisely presented the offer to the closest kinsman for a bid on land belonging to Abimelech and the relative was interested. However, when he realized that the land came with responsibility of taking in Ruth, he passed lest he, “depreciates his own estate”. He did not want to raise descendants for his late relative Mahlon, which is the tradition in Israel. The relative told Boaz to claim Ruth and they sealed the agreement in the presence of witnesses. Subsequently, Boaz married Ruth. The people present blessed Boaz, “… May the Lord make this wife come into your home like Leah and Rachel who built up Israel…… with the offspring the girl will give you may your house become like house pf Perez (ancestor of Boaz) whom Tamar bore to Judah”. Ruth bore a son Obed, with Boaz and the women said to NOAMI, “ Blessed is the Lord who has not failed to provide you today with a heir! May he become famous in Isreal. He will be your comfort and support of your old age for the mother is your daughter in law who loves you.” Ruth 4: 14-15. Naomi took the child and became his nurse. Obed was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of Kind David, the father of King Solomon, (Ruth 4:17). Ruth and Naomi simply teach us how to love as mother and daughter in law
General Reflection
Cloudy life of Struggle always has silver lining if you look: -The story of Ruth’s and Naomi’s lives unfolded with challenges including famine, childlessness, and multiple deaths. Life seemed so bad that Naomi changed her name from pleasant to bitter. However, there were also relationships, marriages, birth of the two sons and ability to migrate during famine. The struggles were overcome in the end, resulting in return to homeland, another marriage and birth of a great heir.
Sacrifices and Favor: - Ruth gave up all for love of her mother in-law and she received favor from Boaz her kinsman, the Jewish community in Bethlehem and from God almighty.
Huge test huge testimony: - Ruth’s big test led to bid testimony. She became the ancestor of king David and Solomon and the only woman other than Mary named in the geneology of Christ Jesu our Lord (Mt1: 1-16). She is the only gentile in whose name a book of the Bible is named. The Book of Ruth is read during the Jewish Feast of Shavuot, during which the Jewish people commemorate the receiving of the commandments. These are attributes we saw in the Blessed Virgin Mary and Esther and they are not lacking in Ruth:-
Trust in God (Ruth 1:15b – 17)- Ruth pledged to serve the God of Naomi.
Resilient Ruth 2: 1 -7) :- Ruth immediately set out to work to provide for herself and mother in law in an alien land and scarcely took time to rest
Humble and Appreciative Ruth 2: 10- 13:- She was grateful to Boaz and wished that she was his servant.
Obedient Ruth Ruth 3:1-18:- Ruth trusted Naomi’s judgement and did exactly as Naomi instructed her
Loyal and keeping good tradition Ruth3: 9-12:- She was adherent to the Jewish tradition for the next of kin to claim wife of deceased relative and raise offspring for the diseased (Deut. 25: 5-10).
Kind, loving and caring Ruth 1,2,3 & 4:- All that Ruth did from beginning to end demonstrated kindness, caring and love without expecting anything in return. Naomi too and Boaz also must have had great love, kindness and care in them.
These leave us to reflect these attributes in our lives.
God bless us my sisters as we continue to model our lives after these heroines and live each moment towards our sanctification and eternal salvation.
PRAYING WITH AUTHORITY
My reflections on a recent virtual retreat about praying with authority and command by Bro. Colin Calmiano.
What does praying with authority mean?
Praying with authority or command means praying in the name of Jesus. Luke 9:1,2 “When Jesus had called the twelve together he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases and he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick”.
As Christians, God has also given us power and authority to drive out demons and cure diseases. So when we pray, we should speak to the problem with command and authority in the name of Jesus. It is important that we know the Word of God, confess it and claim it. The Word of God is Jesus and we learn or know about Jesus by reading the bible. If we know the Word, we can command the problems in our lives to go away. We do not have to be slaves to our problems. We can speak to the problems, the mountains in our lives, be it our marriage, our children, job, illness, anything at all in the name of Jesus Christ. With perseverance, we can calm the storms in our lives by commanding and speaking to the problems. Instead of taking the problem to Jesus like the apostles during the storm at the sea when Jesus called them “You men of little faith”, we can speak to the storm and command it to stop in the name of Jesus Christ. This requires practice and persistence. We must be persistent in our prayers in order to conquer. God has blessed us with the power and authority to command the problem to stop and if we declare it and claim it, it will happen because, THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
Mind your language and responses.
It is very important that we mind our language and responses because our body is listening. We must guard against feeding our body with anxiety, criticism, confusion or anything negative. We do not have to accept sickness as normal. Remember we are called to rule. Sometimes we wonder why we are sickly. It is because we are speaking such language. When someone asks, how are you? Do not respond negatively, l don’t know, l don’t feel well, l am sick about my husband, the children are driving me crazy, and on and on. Instead, speak positive words over the situation or problem. We do not have to worry because anxiety breeds more anxiety and garbage in garbage out.
Sometimes the annoyance and irritation we feel in our hearts can seep through our lips as we speak. The book of James speaks of the dangers of the tongue and how it can consume or destroy lives. James 3:3-12 says “if we put bits into the mouth of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so strong and driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, . . . staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire curse of life and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind but no human can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse people who are made in the image of God. . . “In this passage St. James shows us that although the tongue is a small member, it is mighty. The tongue projects the thoughts and intentions of our heart and often reveals the deep sin that lies hidden beneath the surface. It is not what we are saying that matters much but the source (heart) of what we are saying. We should allow the word of God to renew our minds and hearts by confessing the Word of God constantly. When we allow God’s words as our only connection, then our minds are renewed. Romans 12:2. “Do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewal of your minds that you may know what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect”. To know the will of God we have to look at what Jesus did. He came to do the will of God. He cured the sick, drove demons out of people, made the wind to be still, raised the dead to life to name but a few. Sickness or failure is not the will of God for us. So when we are tempted to use our tongue negatively, we should stop and pray. Our words should always speak of God and the glorious works of His hands.
Prayer
Father, sanctify our speech and our thoughts, so as toalways speak positive words over every problem or situation in our lives, and to remember that you have blessed us with the power and authority to command the storms in our lives to stop in the mighty name of Jesus Christ Amen.
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