Today's Bible lesson for K-5th grades tells the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah. It's one of the few stories of women in the Old Testament in which women are not portrayed as passive victims, but are active models of faithfulness. It is unfortunate that these women's names are not as well known by children as are Noah, Moses, and other role models of faithfulness. Through teaching this story each year at St. Andrew's, we hope to change that reality!
As the curriculum notes at the start of this lesson, these three women lived in a tough age, "when those who worshiped the Lord were unfaithful." This is an interesting description -- that some who worship might yet be unfaithful. It's a reminder that our faith is about much more than what we do on Sunday mornings, our faith is about what we do Monday through Saturday. Even if we get Sunday 100% "right" that matters far less than living all our days aware of God's presence among us. To put it more simply, being Christian is about our choices, not just our voices.
In the case of Naomi, Ruth and Orpah (rhymes with Orca, i.e. a killer whale), they were fast with hard choices. Their husbands dead, the women had to find a community that could support them in which to live. This was a life or death decision -- women could not live independently during that time. They could not work to support themselves and they needed protection (and, frankly, so did men in that rough age). Naomi, mother in law to both Ruth and Orpah, decided that each of the three should return to their own hometowns. This would be the one community on whom they KNEW they could depend to take them in.
Now Ruth and Orpah were of a different race than Naomi and her two sons (who had been husbands to Ruth and Orpah), and the two daughters in law had not practiced the Hebrew faith prior to the marriages. Returning home meant abandoning the One God, and returning to the Moabite faith of their clan. While separating would make it more likely that they would be taken in by the communities that raised them, it also was, in some sense, a rejection of a life with God -- as well as a life with each other. Though torn, Orpah sees the wisdom in this hard choice and chooses to leave Naomi and Ruth and go back to her hometown.
Ruth, however, makes a different choice. She clings to Naomi, giving a beautiful and impassioned speech: "Where you go, I will go: where you lodge, I will lodge; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." No doubt, Ruth's is a strong story of female friendship being more powerful than the patriarchal social forces that seek to separate them. Ruth is taking on a very vulnerable position here. She chooses to go to Naomi's community, who has no responsibility to care for her, to help her re-establish a life. It is not a safe choice, it's a risky one. Her economic and personal well-being are not assured.
But Ruth risks this vulnerability not only because she loves Naomi, but because she loves God. Her loyalty is not just to her friend, but to her friend's God, who has become her own. Of course, it is not unusual for a person's relationship with God to be bound up in relationships with other people. And in fact, in moments when it is hard to take a risk for God, the support found in human friendships often makes it easier to make the harder, but more faithful choice. That's why the friendship between Naomi and Ruth is a holy friendship. It is a friendship that helps Ruth become even more faithful in making life choices. She is an example of holy living in an age when even the most "observant" worshipers of God made unholy choices.
This lesson is PERFECTLY timed in our church calendar to come up this Sunday for two reasons. First, is that next Sunday is All Saints Day -- when we celebrate all holy women and holy men: people who have been "holy friends" to others, helping them make faithful choices even when it is hard. In the Episcopal tradition, we use All Saints Day to celebrate not just the "official" saints of the church, but also all the holy people in our own lives who have helped us live more faithfully. I bet we can all think of a few real mentors and friends who have helped us live out our faith not just in our voices, but in our life choices, too.
The second reason this lesson is well timed, is that THIS Sunday is "St. Andrew's Connects" -- a stewardship-season event that celebrates our care for each other and our financial stewardship of this community. Similar to how Naomi's friendship enables Ruth to take a faithful risk, by reaching out to connect with each other at this time of year we hope to encourage all parish families to take the risk of making a financial pledge this year. Perhaps the confidence we draw from the care we have for each other will enable us to risk being even more generous and joyful givers than we already are. When we remember the many ways in which God's presence is made known to us, especially through our relationships at St. Andrew's, it makes taking the risk of pledging a little easier to accomplish. And when we're willing to take that risk, we really are living our faith in our choices, not just in our voices.
Have a great class this week!
Chris +
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