Daily Readings - Fri Aug 23 2019
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
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.