The family of hospitality and fidelity

November 11^th, 2018     “The Family of Hospitality and Fidelity”      Rev. Heather Jepsen

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

         This morning we continue the story of Ruth and Naomi, as well as our discussion about what it means to be the family of faith.  In typical lectionary fashion, we only have snippets from the book of Ruth today.  Last week we studied the beginning of the story.  Naomi and her husband Elimelech along with their two sons had fled the land of Judah during a time of famine.  They landed in Moab, the neighboring and enemy country, only to have Elimelech and both the sons die.  Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-law journey back to Judah.  Orpah turns back for Moab, but Ruth decides to cast her lot with Naomi.  “Where you go, I will go.”  And so, the women, a strange and sad family, returned to Judah.

         In the chapters before our reading for today, Ruth and Naomi find themselves in Bethlehem just in time for the barley harvest.  Naomi has a kinsman named Boaz, a relative of her dead husband, and she sends Ruth to glean in his field.  As the reapers would pass through, bits of barley would be left behind, and these Ruth would collect for her and Naomi to eat. 

         Boaz returns to his field and takes note of Ruth.  He has heard her story, that her husband died and that she left her country of Moab to stay with and care for Naomi.  Boaz takes pity on Ruth, offering her food and water as well as the best gleanings from his fields.  When Naomi hears of Boaz’s attention, she begins to form a plan.  That is where our first reading for today comes from . . .

         (Read Ruth 3:1-5)

         Naomi advises Ruth to clean herself up and return to the threshing floor.  Boaz will be there asleep with his men and she is to sidle up along side him and make herself noticed.  If you think this sounds a bit like hanky-panky you are right.  Ruth approaches Boaz in the dark and when he awakens in the night, he is surprised to find her there.  Boaz is older, and he is moved that such a beautiful young woman would choose him instead of a younger man.  Ruth says they are kin, and Boaz has the right to marry her.  He spreads his cloak over her that night and promises in the morning to secure her future.

         There is one hurdle in this ancient love story.  There is a man of closer lineage who has first rights to Ruth.  But this man declines the offer, and Boaz stands as redeemer kinsmen, taking Ruth as well as Naomi’s inherited land to be his own.  That is where our second reading from the book of Ruth comes in.

         (Read Ruth 4:13-17)

         Ruth and Boaz are united in marriage, again a mixed marriage as an Israelite marries a Moabite.  A son is born named “Obed” meaning “Child of Destiny”.  The child is given to Naomi as her own, and she nurses the baby as if it were hers.  We can see that this is a miracle child, as we know a grandma would not be able to do such a thing. 

The wonder of the story is found in its last few verses.  Not only is this child a miracle for Naomi, this child is a miracle for Israel.  For Obed is the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David, Israel’s favorite king and the linage from who Jesus is traced.  Remember I told you this story was written when prophets were preaching against mixed marriages and immigrants in Israel?  And here we have a Moabite woman, sworn enemies of Israel and Judah, as the great Grandmother to David, Israel’s hero king.  Though the book of Ruth is small, it has a lot to say about who is welcome in the family of God.

So, what does this have to do with us?  We talked last week about how it is God alone who forms the family of faith.  Ruth and Naomi are an unlikely pairing, brought together by the hand of God.  So too, Ruth and Boaz are an unlikely match, separated by age and culture.  And yet, through their union the nation of Israel continues.  There is little overt mention of God in the Book of Ruth.  Like so often in our own lives, God is part of the background.  But the overall message of Ruth is that God is the glue that holds us all together.  And if we remain faithful to those bonds, if we hold tight to that glue, then God will bless us with new life.

The two main themes in Ruth’s story are hospitality and fidelity.  There would be no story of Ruth without folks showing hospitality to the strangers in their midst.  Ruth shows hospitality by giving to Naomi all that she has, her very life.  Naomi shows hospitality to Ruth by helping her secure a future with Boaz.  And from the beginning, Boaz is hospitality itself.  He honors the stranger, the foreigner, gleaning in his field.  He heaps bounty upon Ruth and Naomi, honoring the Israelite tradition to care for the widow.  And when the opportunity arises to redeem the women, Boaz does not hesitate.  His gift of hospitality to this foreign widow is the opening that God needs to breathe new life into the nation of Israel.

The other theme of Ruth is fidelity, or faithfulness.  Naomi is faithful in her care of Orpah and Ruth, wanting what is best for each of them as she returns to Judah.  Ruth is faithful to Naomi, aligning her life with her and refusing to send the elderly widow away alone.  Together, they are a team, and they each work for the other’s benefit.  From Naomi’s desire to seek a new husband for Ruth, to Ruth’s willingness to share her son Obed with Naomi, the faithfulness of the women is clear.  Even Boaz shows faithfulness as he honors the rules and practices of the culture, securing the kinsman redeemer place only after he checks with the man first in line.  Through it all, the characters of this story are faithful to God, the glue that holds them all together, and the power that blesses them with miraculous new life.

Here in the church family, we have the opportunity to practice both hospitality and fidelity.  This is a church that practices what it preaches when we say “Find Welcome Here”.  Our nation is as divided as ever, but here in this place we are one family.  From varying political stances to varying religious opinions, we honor our call to practice hospitality by creating a place where everybody is welcome.

Through our mission work we extend that hospitality to those outside these walls.  From volunteering at the Food Center, to the manna bag project, to supporting the children’s homes in Columbia, to our work in Malawi and beyond, this church lives out hospitality in every community it touches.  We welcome the stranger, and in doing so, we open a path for God’s blessings in our world.

This church practices fidelity to God, when we practice faithfulness here in the church community.  God is the glue that has brought us together.  We certainly would not have come together without God!  Sometimes being faithful to the ones we are stuck with, is a way we are faithful to God.  Even though our church isn’t perfect, it is worthy of our offerings of energy and passion.  From serving on committees, to sharing our tithes and offerings, fidelity to this church is faithfulness to God.  And through our fidelity, God has blessed this church with new life.

Today in worship we have two ways to practice hospitality and fidelity.  Soon, we will gather at the communion table, and as is our practice in November, we will celebrate family style.  Those that are able, will move to the parlor and pass the bread and juice together.  As we remember Jesus’ death that gives us life, we remember the life that we have found in this family, this community of faith.  Even those of us that can’t gather at the table, will be served as a valuable part of the family.  Together we share one bread and one cup, together we are one family of faith, a place where everyone is welcome to share, friend and stranger alike.

Today we will also offer our pledges in worship.  As a practice of our faithfulness we make a promise of financial support.  We commit to keep funding the mission and ministry of this church in the coming year.  We also commit our time and energy to the mission and ministry of this congregation.  By practicing faithful giving, we create an environment of hospitality, and God blesses us with opportunities for new life.

The story of Ruth and Naomi reminds us that God calls many diverse people into the family of faith.  Our job as followers of God is to practice hospitality to the stranger and to remain faithful to the glue that holds all of us together.  May God bless this church today, as we celebrate in friendship and love and as we make an offering in gratitude and generosity.  And may God bless this church this year as we continue to be a family of hospitality and fidelity in these walls and out in the world.  Like the story of Ruth and Naomi, may our openness and generosity create a space for new life to be born.  Amen.