This week, our first readings during daily mass had been coming from the Book
of Judges, telling the story of the different prophets and judges who were
called by God to try to bring his people back to the faith after they had
strayed and had worshipped other foreign gods. Today’s reading comes from the book that comes directly after the Book of
Judges in the Bible – the book of Ruth.
And what a different tone we find in this book. Ruth was not an Israelite herself – she was a Gentile, a Moabite, but she
married an Israelite man. Rather than go back to her people after her husband dies, she stays with her
mother-in-law Naomi. The book of Ruth tells the story of this selfless, courageous woman of faith, a
woman devoted to her family. I was just remarking to someone the other day how we live in a throw-away
society. How we get rid of a cell phone
that is only a year or two old because we think it is ancient and of no more
use. We sometimes don’t have the loyalty and commitment we should have for our
family and our community and our parish. In a world we see things as ephemeral and impermanent, what commitment are we
willing to make to God? Are we willing
to be as tenacious and forthright as Ruth?
Or are we willing to just walk away?
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