Verse for reflection: St Mathew 1:2-5
The third woman we come across in this genealogy is Ruth. The life of Ruth is explained in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Ruth was a Moabite woman (non-Hebrew/gentile) married in the Hebrew family whose patriarch was Elimelech. The family consisted of Naomi, Elimelech’s wife, sons Mahlon and Chillon, and Orpah-the other daughter in law of Naomi (apart from Ruth). In course of time, Elimelech and his sons die. After the death of her sons, Naomi decides to move back to Bethlehem in Judah and hence implores her daughter in laws to return to their mother’s house and blesses them. But Ruth, concerned for her mother in law insists that she goes with Naomi. Ruth’s acceptance of the Yahweh and the Jewish life is beautifully stated in her statement to Naomi:
For wherever you go, I will go;
(Ruth 1:6, NKJV)
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.”
It wasn’t easy for Ruth as it may seem. She was a Moabite woman (a non-jew) and coming to Judah as a foreigner, leaving away the comforts and safety of her land because she was committed to her mother-law Naomi and accepted the God of Israel. While in Bethlehem, through God’s amazing plan she is married to Boaz, a relative of Elimelech and they become parents of Obed who begets Jesse who is the father of David.
Western fathers like St Ambrose see Ruth as the type of call of the Gentiles in Church. Through her obedience, kindness and loyalty, she became the partaker of a great blessing – to be ancestress of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Rincy John
