From emptiness to fulfilment

By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

The Bible is a collection of 66 books, each with their own audience, purpose, context, author and genre. 39 of these books are sacred scripture in Judaism. Christians come to these books of the Bible as second readers who have inherited a rich history of interpretation.

Poetry, law, prophecy, biography, historical narrative, letters, wisdom and short stories are found within the pages of the Bible. A compelling example of a short story is found in the Book of Ruth, which is being read in churches around the world this week.

The four chapters of Ruth begin with an introduction to people and place. Naomi and her husband Elimelech leave their home in Bethlehem for the country of Moab due to a shortage of food in their hometown. Their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion go with them. In the foreign land where they make their home, Elimelech dies. Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women called Orpah and Ruth. Ten years pass and then Naomi’s life is again marked by tragedy when both her sons die.

Amid this loss, Naomi hears that there has been a good harvest in Bethlehem, and she decides to return. She urges her daughters-in-laws to stay with their own mothers, to remarry and be with their people. Orpah tearfully agrees but Ruth will not be moved:

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16 – 17).

Together the two women return to Bethlehem. Naomi is deep in grief, and it is up to Ruth to find them a way forward. The next part of the story gives us a glimpse into a biblical safety net: during the harvest grain was left in the field for vulnerable members of the society to collect.

Ruth brings home food for herself and Naomi. Ruth’s character captures the eye of Boaz who owns the field. What follows next in the story would make a great Netflix special – intrigue, creativity, romance, obligation and inheritance propel the narrative forward.

The story concludes with the birth of Ruth and Boaz’s son Obed who is known in the town as “Naomi’s boy”. Naomi’s life of emptiness now includes fulfilment. Her life has been blessed by a foreigner, an outsider, with whom she has created a deep bond.

Joan Chittister offers a detailed reflection in her book The Story of Ruth: Twelve Moments in Every Woman’s Life. She notes that this story can be read alongside the lives of women in every time and place through the following movements: loss, change, transformation, aging, independence, respect, recognition, insight, empowerment, self-definition, invisibility and fulfilment.

Ruth has much to teach us about the humanity of those who seek a future in another place, those who return, seeking God in the circumstances of our lives, and overcoming prejudice to accompany each other amid our cultural differences.

I wonder how the story of Ruth can speak to each of us today?