Monday, March 31 ~ A People You Did Not Know Before

~~Ruth 2:11-13
But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the LORD reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.”  

~~We've heard Ruth's story before, and usually it is told as part of a beautiful love story. Ruth leaves everything familiar to her: her family, her friends, her faith and her home, to travel to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. When she gets there, she gleans in the fields to feed herself and Naomi…at risk of harm to herself, no less. An unattached woman in those days was always in danger…she needed the protection of a man.

Boaz offers her the protection she needs, and more than that, he offers her his name, and a family. He knew she sacrificed everything familiar to take care of Naomi. He knew the risk she took on while caring for her mother-in-law alone. He knew that she had abandoned her family's faith and taken on the faith of an oppressed people. And he offers her a blessing from God…likely the greatest thing he could give her.

When we gather for worship, we often do not know what burdens those around us carry. Many chose to carry them alone, or just can't begin to explain what they are going through. But, when we gather together in Jesus' name, that is our opportunity to share a blessing from God with others. It doesn't matter how intimately we know each other. We can always share blessings…and, likely, when we do, we are offering to someone in great need the very thing that will help them get through life's most difficult times.

Reverend Tracy Parker