Daily Readings - Fri Aug 25 2017
Ruth
1In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.2The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.3Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.6When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.14At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.15"Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."16But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.22So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
Matthew
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"37Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment.39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Ruth tells the story of Naomi, a woman who faces immense suffering and loss. She loses her husband and her two sons, leaving her alone and bereaved. Yet, in the midst of her grief, she shows remarkable strength and faith. When she decides to return to her homeland of Bethlehem, her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, initially accompany her. Orpah eventually returns to her own people, but Ruth clings to Naomi, declaring her unwavering loyalty and commitment to Naomi’s people and God. This passage highlights the power of fidelity and trust in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus being tested by the Pharisees, who ask him to identify the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus responds by citing two commandments: to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. He emphasizes that the entire law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. This teaching underscores the central importance of love—both for God and for others—as the foundation of Christian life.
The readings today remind us that love and fidelity are at the heart of living a life pleasing to God. In the story of Ruth, we see an example of selfless love and loyalty, as Ruth chooses to remain with Naomi despite the difficulties she will face. Similarly, Jesus teaches us that love for God and neighbor is the essence of the Christian life. These readings call us to reflect on how we live out this love in our daily lives. Do we remain faithful even when circumstances are challenging? Do we show love and compassion to those around us, especially those in need? Let us strive to follow the example of Ruth and the teachings of Jesus, allowing love to guide our actions and decisions.