Daily Readings - Fri Aug 20 2021
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 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.