Scriptures and Reflection Questions, Nov. 8

The Scriptures Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Psalm 127 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 ____________________________________________ Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." She said to her, "All that you tell me I will do." So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; 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 borne him." Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. __________ This story is at least PG-13 or R rated video. What is at stake for Ruth and Naomi? It is significant that the women in this story are from Moab. This story was written during a time of ethinic cleansing when inter-tribal marriages were outlawed. ________________________________________________________ Psalm 127 Unless God builds the house, * their labor is in vain who build it. Unless God watches over the city, * in vain the sentries keep their vigil. It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; * vain, too, to eat the bread of toil, for God gives to the beloved sleep. Children are a heritage from God, * and the fruit of the womb is a gift. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior * are the children of one’s youth. Happy are they who have their quiver full of them; * they shall not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. (St. Helena Psalter) __________________ How do you think of God leading your life as intimately as the psalmist imagines? _________________________________________________________ Hebrews 9:24-28 Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. ________________ The author of Hebrews sees that Jesus has utterly changed the sacrificial system. The whole story of sin is over. A new order has begun. How would you describe the new freedom that Jesus intitiates? _________________________________________________________ John 11:32-44 Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." _________________ Jesus reverses most of the social geography of status and respect. How might you cast the actors in this scene? Who in our society would these characters be? __________________________________________________________ For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings: Praying the Scriptures with Lectio (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)