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 takes, 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