Daily Readings - Fri Aug 20 2021
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 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.