Advent: Abuela Ruth – Part II
Scripture — Ruth 4:11-12 (NRSV)
Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman [Ruth] who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
Focus
When Ruth and Naomi return to Judah, the stars align and Ruth pursues Boaz, who is a kinsman redeemer. Ruth takes some risks and she and Boaz eventually come together as husband and wife. The seed of the Messiah is inside Ruth without her knowing even before she arrives in Judah. Her brave steps secure the steps of Obed, Jesse, David, and eventually Jesus. She did not know she was carrying a king of an everlasting kingdom inside her womb. She did not know that she was building the house of God. In fact, she probably never saw the harvest of her healing as a widow. She never saw the fulfillment of the prophecies about the long-awaited Messiah. She waited and she worked, she hoped and she loved.
Devotion
Yesterday we entered into Abuela Ruth’s story to see how she was a carrier of the covenantal and unconditional love of God. Ruth loved Naomi in the ways that we would expect God to love us. A love that does not leave us nor forsake us, in our most bitter of times. Ruth also receives a benediction and is welcomed into the community of women saints who built the house of God through the generations all the way into the lineage of Christ.
Ruth was not only a carrier of God’s love but was also in the community of God’s love. Ruth’s presence to a grief-stricken Naomi mirrors the theology of acompañamiento (accompaniment), which foreshadows a theology of Emmanuel: with us is God. These women invite us into community and commitment which is a rare treasure these days. They found uncommon community grounded in their common humanity. Ruth had no idea that living into this love and living into this community would secure the coming of Christ generations down the road. She was simply loving and walking alongside Naomi. God’s love and God’s company occur in community.
When Ruth and Naomi return to Judah, the stars align and Ruth pursues Boaz, who is a kinsman redeemer. Ruth takes some risks and she and Boaz eventually come together as husband and wife. The seed of the Messiah is inside Ruth without her knowing even before she arrives in Judah. Her brave steps secure the steps of Obed, Jesse, David, and eventually Jesus. She did not know she was carrying a king of an everlasting kingdom inside her womb. She did not know that she was building the house of God. In fact, she probably never saw the harvest of her healing as a widow. She never saw the fulfillment of the prophecies about the long-awaited Messiah. She waited and she worked, she hoped and she loved.
You, too, are a carrier of the love of God that embodies this love in community. Emmanuel is with you, has been with you and will continue to be with you. You, too, carry the seeds of the Messiah that will impact generations to come. Take courage, do not lose heart in the waiting. Live into this work of redemption, even when you cannot see the immediate results.
Reflect
How do you see Emmanuel with you and around you in this season in the work that you do? How might Ruth’s story encourage you in the long run?
Act
Consider the spiritual gifts that you have inherited. Consider the gifts that you will leave as you go about doing God’s work in the world.
Pray
Our long-awaited Messiah, you who were a seed of hope until the time of your revelation, encourage us as we wait and work and receive revelation. Oh God of grandmother Ruth, who worked, and toiled, and envisioned and imagined a deeper love, give us eyes to see when we cannot see, give us vision to do work that bears much fruit, great fruit, and good fruit that will impact generations with your love and redemption, long after we are gone. Amén.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God Works Through the Fruitfulness of Childbearing (Ruth 4:13-18).
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Inés Velásquez-McBryde
Chaplain at Fuller Theological Seminary & Pastor, Preacher, Speaker
Inés Velásquez-McBryde is a pastor, preacher, reconciler and mujerista theologian. She is the lead pastor and co-founder of The Church We Hope For. She is originally from Nicaragua, a third generation pastor, and the first pastora in her family. Inés earned her MDiv at Fuller Theolo...