Daily Readings - Fri Aug 23 2019
Ruth
1In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.2The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.3But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.4These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,5and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.15And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law."16But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Matthew
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"37And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the great and first commandment.39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on love, fidelity, and commitment. The first reading from the Book of Ruth tells the story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, highlighting Ruth's remarkable loyalty. Despite the loss of her husband and the hardships she faced, Ruth chooses to remain with Naomi, embracing her people and her God. This narrative, set in a time of famine and loss, underscores the transformative power of love and commitment. Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi, even when given the opportunity to return to her own people, reflects a deep fidelity that transcends cultural and religious boundaries.
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 call to love God with our entire being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This teaching is not just a moral instruction but a profound spiritual truth. Jesus is reminding us that love is the foundation of all relationships—our relationship with God and with one another. The Pharisees, who sought to test Jesus, are instead offered a truth that challenges them (and us) to re-examine how we live out this love in our daily lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we embody love and fidelity in our own lives. Like Ruth, we are called to remain steadfast in our commitments, even when the journey is difficult. Like Jesus, we are reminded that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to prioritize God and to see the dignity and worth in every person we encounter. As we go about our day, let us ask ourselves: How can I love more deeply? How can I reflect the fidelity of Ruth and the transformative love of Christ in my relationships and actions? May we be guided by the wisdom of these readings to live lives marked by love, compassion, and unwavering commitment to one another.