Word to the Wise
Friday, August 19, 2011 - Friday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22 and Matt 22:34-40,1047]You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. [Matthew] Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. [Ruth]
Jesus' words are in response to a "test" question put to him by a scholar of the law: which of the more than 600 precepts of the Mosaic law are the most important. Ruth's words are in response to an invitation by her mistress, Naomi, to return to her own people. Jesus' words establish a priority in principle that should guide all our worship and conduct. Ruth's words offer us a wonderfully poignant example of the principles in action.
Both sets of words require commitment - life long commitment! Ruth's words are popular at weddings. If only the statistical data would show that these words motivate a love with all one's heart, soul and mind on the part of so many who publicly proclaim that love in a marriage ceremony. It is not the fault of the words. Ruth demonstrated the love and commitment that she spoke of. Marriage requires that a person love both God and spouse with all his/her heart, soul and mind! This love cannot exist apart from the actions which manifest it. So much good flows from such a love that it is no wonder the Lord places love of God and neighbor at the front of the covenant! Such a love also can exist in a true friendship! As St. Thomas Aquinas points out, friendship is the best way to describe the relationship that should exist between God and human!
Jesus and Ruth both challenge us to look at our relationships and commitments to see if these express the love that God has given us to share. AMEN