20th Week, Saturday, August 26
Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 / Matthew 23:1-12
Ruth marries Boaz; Ruth gives birth to David (Obed, father of Jesse, father of David)
"Take one step toward God, and he'll run two toward you." That saying makes a beautiful point: Whatever generosity we show in our dealings toward God or his children, we will receive back double from God. We see this illustrated in a remarkable way in the case of Ruth. Ruth befriended Naomi when Naomi was all alone. Now God repays Rut h double. Ile gives her not only a wonderful husband but also a son, David. From David's line will come Jesus, the eternal Son of God.
***
Have we ever experienced God's "double portion" in our dealings with him? "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Luke 6:38
***
Ruth had adopted the ways of her deceased Jewish husband. Now, she is adopted into God’s people.
***
It is certainly worthwhile to read the unabridged version of this love story. It is found in the Bible. It has some more lessons of human importance. The skilful techniques of female seduction may of course provoke. But it is good to know that women can provoke and do. Ruth teaches the discerning male to beware and make up his own mind. When God made man, he made them male and female, all of them. God makes use of this for his plans. Boaz is a well-to-do relative of Elimelech, Ruth’s is deceased father-in-law. God is not only there where miracles occur, but works hidden. Not even those involved know about it. Ruth is the third woman mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus. They are the threads into God's tapestry of salvation. The child born to Boaz and Ruth is called Obed, the father of Jesse, whose son David of Bethlehem the ancestor of Jesus Christ to be born a thousand years later. History is both: divine and human.
***
Everyone who is in the preaching ministry knows the necessity of practicing what he preaches. Yet, the complementary aspect can also be to preach about what one practices. Because when one preaches about what one practices, then the premise is the reality of life and not just from precepts or concepts. Then the preaching becomes related with life, with the struggles and failures, the disappointments and pain, the tears and sweat. Jesus tells us in the gospel to get down to the reality of life and not to expect from others what we ourselves cannot do or won't do. He told the people not to be guided by what the scribes and Pharisees do, since they do not practice what they preach.
But He also said something important before that - You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say. To preach about what we practice may have a connection to the reality of life but yet it may also limit the challenge to grow in spirituality and discovery of self.
We must remember that God has called us to be holy, just as He is holy. To follow Jesus is not to be contented with what we are doing now but to discover what He wants us to do. Indeed, the precepts of Christianity opens our eyes to the depth of the reality of life.
***
The Lord abhors duplicity and hypocrisy, particularly in religious leaders. The scribes had rendered a real service by becoming the teachers of Israel during the exile, when the priesthood was on the decline, but later, they had gradually turned religious living into a complicated intellectualistic, legalistic and casuistic system of observances, which they themselves did not fully practice. It had become the pride and boast of the pious Pharisees to observe them all and in this way to work their own salvation. On account of this pride, they lacked the true spirit and humility of openness to God’s plans.
***
Who doesn’t desire the praise and respect of others? We want others to see us at our best with all of our strengths and achievements – rather than at our worst with all of our faults and shortcomings. God sees us as we truly are – sinners and beggars always in need of his mercy, help, and guidance. Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers and rulers of Israel, to teach and serve their people with humility and sincerity rather than with pride and self-promotion. They went to great lengths to draw attention to their religious status and practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant Jews. “See how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!” In their misguided zeal for religion, they sought recognition and honour for themselves rather than for God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were supposed to serve.
***
Prayer
Lord God, you are pure grace. You fill with your forgiveness and life those who recognize their own emptiness and the need for your mercy. Grant us not to call attention to ourselves and the good you allow us to do, but to serve you and people in the unsophisticated simplicity of our hearts and to give all glory and honour to you, for the life and grace you bring us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
