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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-21, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019. PAGE 13. By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Blyth Christian Reformed Church The story of Ruth, from the Old Testament, is one of the better- known stories in the Bible. Set about 1,200 years before Jesus Christ was born, it begins with a husband and wife, Elimelek and Naomi, leaving their hometown of Bethlehem because of a famine. They travel to a neighbouring country with their two sons. A reader of Hebrew would notice the irony in these opening verses of the story, for Bethlehem means “house of bread”, but it was anything but. The irony continues with Naomi’s story, for her name means, “pleasant” or “beautiful,” but life in the foreign land is anything but pleasant or beautiful for Naomi. Very soon after her family arrives in that land, Naomi’s husband dies. Her two sons marry, but they soon die as well. Naomi is left a widow in a foreign land. Those who know about the culture are quick to note that Naomi has very few rights, because she is a foreigner, a widow and a woman. Knowing that her life will be difficult, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, and her two daughters- in-law begin the journey with her. Knowing what lies ahead of them (they will become vulnerable as foreigners, widows and women in Naomi’s hometown), she urges them to return. One does, but her daughter-in-law, Ruth, commits herself to Naomi. No matter what happens, Ruth vows, I will go with you, and even when you die, I will remain in your place, for your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth shows a fearless commitment to Naomi and we respect her for it. It was not an easy decision. When the two women arrive back in Bethlehem, the women of the village greet Naomi, but she pleads with them to call her by a different name. Call me Mara, she says, for Mara means “bitter”. She has experienced bitterness in the time she was away. She lost her husband and two sons, and, except for her faithful daughter-in-law, she has nothing left. As she explains this to her old friends, she admits that it is the Lord who has taken away all her blessings. We are never told why, and it doesn’t seem to matter to Naomi. But she is not bitter against God. Rather, she uses a name for God which is translated as “Almighty” and which is used most often to describe God as he grants the blessing of children. Even in her loss, Naomi expresses a deep trust in the Lord. Instead of turning away from him, she uses a name to describe him in such a way that she appears to be trusting that he can restore her. And that is what God does. Ruth, in order to survive, puts herself in a very vulnerable position, gleaning the fields behind the harvesters. From time to time the harvesters would drop a head of wheat, and the law said that they were obligated to leave it there so that the poor could take it home and have something to eat themselves. Ruth and Naomi would, very possibly, be able to survive on those leftovers from the fields. It appears they will have a grim existence. But Ruth “happens” to have chosen to glean in a field of a gracious man named Boaz. Boaz is a distant relative of Naomi and he instructs his workers to leave a little more wheat stalks behind than they normally would. And, when he speaks to Ruth, Boaz seems to welcome her as a member of his extended family. Although she is a foreigner, he uses language that would include her among his people. The story progresses with Naomi and Ruth having plenty of food to eat and it would end well there, except that is not the end of the story. Ruth proposes marriage to Boaz, and he agrees. At the same time Boaz will be obligated to care for Naomi, and, as was the custom of that time, the first child born to Ruth and Boaz will not be considered theirs. He will belong to Naomi. It’s a rather strange custom, but it guaranteed that Naomi’s memory would not be forgotten. She would live on in the memories of her grandchildren and beyond. Ruth and Boaz do have a child, and he is named Obed, and Naomi takes on the role of his mother. Obed, whose name means “one who serves”, becomes the one who serves to carry on Naomi’s name and keep her memory alive. As we read about Boaz, we see the author give him the title of “Guardian-Redeemer”. A guardian- redeemer is one who gives up his own rights and position to care for another. Guardian-redeemers sacrificed their own futures for the sake of another. Boaz, by agreeing to marry Ruth, was giving up his life to that he could provide the very thing that had embittered Naomi’s life: he would provide her children. The story of Ruth and Boaz is a story of self-sacrifice and commitment. Their marriage is not a marriage based on mutual attraction or even love at first. It is a marriage founded in the deep desire to be of benefit for a woman who has lost everything. And, although we can be sure that Ruth and Boaz loved each other, their first commitment was to Naomi. In a sense, the story of Naomi is the story of the human race. When we live life with God as he intended us to, our lives are meant to be pleasant and beautiful. However, the human race has wandered away from God. It does not take much study to realize how broken and troubled our world has become. Even in our community many who had dreamed of a full and complete life have ended up being emptied of much of its blessings. Broken relationships, unrealized dreams, THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited@tcc.on.ca Special Speaker: Sandra Cable Accessible Sunday, February 24 Worship Service at 11:00 am Blyth United Church Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Nursery care available 519-887-6687 Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am (*New time) Coffee & Snacks following the service We invite you to join our church family in: BRUSSELS United Church Worship and Sunday School Sunday, February 24 at 9:30 am Worship leader, Sandra Cable All are Welcome The Regional Ministry of Hope BLYTH BRUSSELS Trinity St. John’s 9:15 am 11:15 am COME WORSHIP WITH US! Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope St. Paul’s Trinity WINGHAM 11:15 am These Anglican Churches Welcome You Sermon Series: The ABC’s of Anglicanism: Week three: C is for Creeds and our beliefs Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. Wednesday Night Kids’ Club 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm (ages 5-12) For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship From the Minister’s Study Ruth’s story one of self-sacrifice, commitment Continued on page 19 huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn February 24 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship Pastor Phil Delsaut “Keep Your Focus” (2 Peter 1:1-10) SPECIAL REPORT from PNG Missions Team! Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m. HEIRBORN (JK-Gr. 6), 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jr. & Sr. YOUTH (Gr. 7-12) Feb. 26 Way of Jesus training, Feb. 28 Annual Meeting