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August 19, 2005

Ru 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22

Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there
that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her.

Naomi said, "See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!" But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Thus it was that Naomi returned
with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth,
who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab.
They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Ruth has no obligation to Naomi, she stays to accompany her to a land that is strange to Ruth. Ruth accepts the God of Naomi and promises to her to go whereever she goes. They arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest and they have left a land in the midst of a great famine. Ruth's promise to Naomi echoes the covenant of God with the people of Israel. There is a hope for food in Bethlehem "house of bread" and a new life.

It must have been a trial to be a widow in the time of Naomi and Ruth. I understand that the widowed and orphaned are still a special group to be cared for by the Church.