Daily Readings - Fri Aug 20 2021
Ruth
1In the days of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed to sojourn in the region of the Moabites with his wife and two children2He called himself Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and his two sons, the one Mahlon, and the other Chilion, Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. And entering into the region of the Moabites, they stayed there3And Elimelech the husband of Naomi died; and she remained with her sons4They took wives from among the Moabites, of whom one was called Orpah, and the other Ruth. And they lived there ten years5And they both died, namely Mahlon and Chilion, and the woman was left alone, bereaved of her two children and her husband6And she arose so that she might journey to her native land, with both her daughters-in-law, from the region of the Moabites. For she had heard that the Lord had provided for his people and had given them food14In response, they lifted up their voice and began to weep again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and then turned back. Ruth clung to her mother-in-law15Naomi said to her, "See, your kinswoman returns to her people, and to her gods. Hurry after her.16She answered, "Do not be against me, as if I would abandon you and go away; for wherever you will go, I will go, and where you will stay, I also will stay with you. Your people are my people, and your God is my God22Therefore, Naomi went with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, from the land of her sojourn, and returned to Bethlehem, at the time of the first reaping of the barley
Matthew
34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said to him: " ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the greatest and first commandment39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that illuminate the essence of love and loyalty, both towards God and our neighbors. The first reading from the Book of Ruth presents us with a poignant story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, set against the backdrop of loss and hardship. Naomi, having lost her husband and sons, is met with a profound act of devotion from her daughter-in-law Ruth, who chooses to remain by her side despite the challenges ahead. This narrative underscores the transformative power of love and fidelity, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the heart of Jesus’ teaching. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by emphasizing the dual nature of love: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This teaching is not merely a moral guideline but a profound revelation of God’s nature. Jesus makes it clear that these two commandments are the foundation of the entire law, highlighting that our relationship with God is inextricably linked to our relationship with others.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we embody love in our daily lives. Just as Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi was a testament to her faith, our commitment to loving God and neighbor must be more than a feeling—it must be a way of life. In a world often marked by division and self-interest, we are called to mirror God’s love through acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness. Let us strive to live out this dual commandment, allowing our love for God to overflow into our interactions with those around us, transforming our communities and our world.