Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Book of Ruth 4:13-17
Naomi Gains a Son
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We remember well the story of Ruth; a story of her devotion to her mother-in-law-Naomi. She lost a husband and her two daughters-in-law lost their husbands as well. This was a tragedy beyond belief for the women had no way to fend for themselves, but would be forced to be beggars. But the daughters-in-law were young and could re-marry, but that was not a realistic option for Naomi....so she was to return to Israel and find her kin and hope for mercy. But Ruth clings to her and pledges an oath of loyalty to Naomi, so compelling that her words still bind spouses and lovers today: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die – there I will be buried…” (Ruth 1:16b-17a). Ruth becomes the bearer of God’s promise of faithfulness for Naomi. Ruth finds favor in the eyes of Boaz, a kin of Naomi, marries and bears a child-Obed. A son who would stand for God’s role as “restorer of life.”
It was a foretaste of the feast to come. For Obed become the father of Jesse. And Jesse of David. And so on until Mary who would bear the promise of God in a son – a son who be for the whole world… the promise of God’s faithfulness, the restorer of life for all.
Dear Lord,
Fill our ears and our hearts with the story of your faithfulness- from the promise to Abraham, thru the promise of your Son, Our Lord. Instill in us a clean heart that we may joyfully spread the “Good News” throughout the land. Remind us always to be faithful to you and to lift up to you in our prayers all those who need your tender love in their lives. Amen.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
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