In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth

Transcription

1 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / First day We are witnesses of your redemption This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heal you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you The Book of Ruth Ruth 4:1-11 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, Turn aside, friend; sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, Sit down here. So they sat down. Then he

2 said to the redeemer, Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say, Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you1 will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you. And he said, I will redeem it. Then Boaz said, The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth2 the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance. Then the redeemer said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself, he drew off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day. Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. is with me always Spiritual food The witnesses bless the union between Boaz and Ruth by wishing them a fruitful partnership that will give birth to many children, their future wealth. In those days women had to secure the family s richness and continuity by having many children. There was a heavy burden on them, when they entered a partnership. Leah and Rachel were both wed to Jacob (Genesis 29-30) in order to grant him sons (girls did not really count and were not always mentioned in the scriptures). If a man s wife could not conceive, the servants of the wife could be used to fulfil the need for sons. Barren women could be divorced and sent away by a man. This could mean the coming death of that woman if she had no family to return to. Jacob had twelve sons of four women. Those twelve symbolize the twelve original tribes of Israel. He also had one daughter (seldom mentioned) named Dinah. What kind of fruitfulness counts in your surrounding? How do I measure my own fruitfulness in life? I feel safe and peaceful in

3 Today s blessing Good not everything that I have tried to achieve has become fruitful. Bless the things unfinished and unachieved in my life. Good much has been fruitful in my life. I thank you for the blessing that has flown to me out of your well. Good console and strengthen all couples who have not been blessed with children. Let them find ways together to feel fruitful in their lives as well as in their love towards each other.

4 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Second day Glory and grace This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heal you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you The Book of Ruth Ruth 4:1-12 We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.

5 is with me always Spiritual food The witnesses remind Boaz of his ancestors and mention Judah and Tamar. Now this is another exciting story in the beginnings of the scriptures. Tamar had been married to more of Judah s sons but none of them had begotten a child. So in order to not remain unfruitful, Tamar had to veil herself and get Judah to make an injustice done to her into a right. She then had his son by deceiving him. The bible contains many a rough life story seen from the female perspective. Many a woman had to go through humiliating times and procedures to become a mother. Not unlike the fates of so many women and couples of today. If they finally were with child, their joy was unmeasurable. Each child reflects s creative will and also points us to the myth of the godly child. This myth lives in many cultures and religions. This godly child is awaited with great longing. When it finally is born it always brings new beginnings and a change of the old values into newer and richer values. Yet it is always challenged and often even threatened by the old system, the old king. The old system does not want renewal and negates new ways of thinking. The old king often tries to kill this newborn child in order to keep the old order alive. However, there is always the need and longing for new beginnings, for new life and for life-changing renewal. To be precise, each newborn child is a symbol of a new future to those who are parents. I have been walking with in a very intense way these last four weeks. Has there been born a voice in me, or a godly child within me, that longs to be born into this life of mine? What change and renewal is calling out for me? I feel safe and peaceful in Today s blessing Tender teach me your tenderness so that I may be enabled to hear the little voice that has been born within me and wants out into my life. Tender bless me and that which has come to being within me so that it will be born when it is ready. Let it come to life and bless it.

6 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Third day We are one flesh and creators of new life This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heel you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you The Book of Ruth Ruth 4:1-11 We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

7 is with me always Spiritual food In the beginning of the Book of Ruth we were confronted with death and a lot of unsurmountable pain. Identifying with Naomi and Ruth probably made us feel desperate and doubting a good ending. We possibly felt, this hard blow will not be overcome. Going through such tough times of depression and hopelessness make one wonder if there is a that offers a good future. Having come to this point in the story when love takes over and new life is waiting on the threshold, you witness a miraculous new beginning a promising new birth. Naomi and Ruth have become our mothers in hope and caring. The outcome of this story gives us hope even if we are aware that not all ends so well and promising. However, we need positive stories so that we keep on hoping for ourselves and those close to us. In Boaz and Ruth two different lives merge into one shared life. They are the ground for new life, for new hope and faith. All they have invested in their mutual life, their emotions and tenderness, their awareness and sensitivity for each other has borne fruit. Their son is the living symbol of their faithfulness to life and creation itself. Which signs talk of a good future in my life? Has been re-born in me? I feel safe and peaceful in Today s blessing Loving bless all couples in their love for each other. Bless them with your tenderness and understanding so that they become a haven to each other. Loving show couples the way to each other so that they may not lose touch with one another but continuously grow together instead. Loving bless the child that it may be conceived in mutual love and that it be loved by them with care and tenderness so that they will enjoy each other s closeness.

8 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Fourth day My soul rejoices This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heel you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you The Book of Ruth Ruth 4:1-14 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law

9 who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him. is with me always Spiritual food With the birth of their son, s power and glory come into their lives as a creative energy that enlivens all three of them. Those around them are witnesses to this bliss and accept as the giver. Blessed be the Lord, and blessed be Ruth who is worth more than seven sons to Naomi. is creator, giver and source of all life. Ruth s value is being praised in the highest tones. Her inner beauty, the greatness of her soul is celebrated. In a society that normally does not even mention girls or women this acclamation is exceptional. She has made it into a book of herself in the Old Testament. That says a lot! Ruth has proved to be what her name proclaimed: a good and gentle friend, loyal and loving and fruitful in every sense. Which of my inner qualities shine similar to Ruth s? Do I dare praise myself for my own good aspects and my soul s purity? When I find the courage to see my own value, it is just and right to give thanks to for guiding and strengthening me. I feel safe and peaceful in Today s blessing Creative lay your blessings on all creation so that your majesty and love can be witnessed even by the blind. Healing bless me with hands that are able to heal so that I can take part in healing the wounds of man and nature in order to preserve what you created. I bless you, O loving, for giving me all that I need.

10 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Fifth day The child is named and given a future This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heel you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you The Book of Ruth Ruth 4:1-22 Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.

11 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, A son has been born to Naomi. They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. is with me always Spiritual food The name of Ruth s son is Obed which means servant. His followers will be the forefathers and foremothers of Jesus Christ. This alone shows the importance of Ruth and her husband Boaz. Having come this far in the story, we now see what good has come out of Ruth s stubborn wish to accompany her mother-in-law. Her pledge of love and loyalty has enabled the birth of a son with a real story to come. When Naomi takes this son and rejoices in him, she also exclaims her gratefulness for all that Ruth has given her. This outcome is due to their mutual support and caring. It pays off, one might say. Their paths were entwined and filled with obstacles and holes to fall into. They learnt to deal with life s adversaries and to become strong by mastering these challenges. The women s cleverness, strategies and stamina were tried.they proved being worthy. Ruth knows that Naomi will love and care for her son she knows she can trust her motherly friend. She will be able to be there by his side when he grows and becomes an individual and strong man. She will be able to let go of him, as she let go of Orpah. It is exactly this environment that breeds kings and queens for the future. It is exactly this atmosphere that paves the way for Jesus Christ who will be challenged and tried and still will follow his vocation faithful to his. It is exactly this people who enable me to become who dreamt of me to become: a free woman, a free man, capable of love and empathy. Let me take time to call myself happy in so many things, which I shall name now. At the end of this story let me remember the meaning of my own name. Perhaps these life stories help me define the program that seems to be included in my name. I feel safe and peaceful in

12 Today s blessing At the end of a long path I long for your loving arms, which embrace and hold me, which show me that I have come home to you to me and to those I love. Blessed are you, my, you creator of life and all being, for having accompanied me so that I do not get lost in the tangles of the world. Blessed are you, my, for being mother and father to my whole being.

13 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Sixth day I memorize precious moments This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heel you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you is with me always

14 Spiritual food It is high time to look back and reflect on the days and weeks of daily prayer. Some of the texts, ideas, questions have been familiar to me, some of them were new and perhaps even unsettling. I have walked the paths of two interesting women. In walking the spiritual path with them, we have come close. Sometimes I even found myself so involved that I could not tell, if it was theirs alone or mine as well. A love story has accompanied me. A love story between two women of two generations, between man and woman and, last but not least, between human beings and. If I am lucky, I may even have experienced a growing love for myself! Which moments in this love story have touched me most? Why has this moment/have these moments been so important to me? Is there something that I really have learnt to value in myself in the process of this journey? I feel safe and peaceful in Today s blessing Loving your love is a blessing to all those who feel it who let it flow through them and out into others for the good of everyone. Loving bless those people who are divided in themselves so that they may find peace in your love through our love.

15 In you I feel safe. Naomi and Ruth Fifth week / Seventh day Faith faces daily challenges and conquers them This week s prayer you have brought me this far look at all aspects of me with your loving eyes you let me grow and mature and tenderly touch my wounds so that they may heel you keep me safe and sound and bless our companionship you say yes to me I look at you with loving eyes and thank you for all that has grown in me through you and with you is with me always Spiritual food I have reached my goal. I have walked a spiritual path and now I am at the end of this guided tour. Now is the time to make a big decision: do I want to walk

16 alone or with from now on? Which fork am I going to take? Will I walk this path full of trust as if I were walking a sacred path that finally leads me to the center? It is now that I will decide whether the time that has just passed has evoked voices in me that call me onto new paths, even if they seem strange and unknown to me. Now is the time when it will become clear whether I have given a voice within me. It is my decision whether I move on, when I move on, with whom I walk my path and how I walk it. If there is one thing I have learnt from Naomi and Ruth it is this: will be by my side, will be my advocate, regardless of my decision. With by my side I can scale walls! I feel safe and peaceful in Today s blessing Gracious at the end of this spiritual exercise I am at the beginning of my new life. Bless me with power and strength so that I will be able to give you space in my daily life. Gracious you have called me into life and onto my personal path do not let me stand still but renew your call so that I overcome my laziness and my reasons not to spend time with you. Bless me with your staying power and draw me into your arms. Gracious bless me and my companions so that we are enabled to protect and shelter each other and thus become a blessing to one another. Amen.