Ruth 1:(1-7) 8-9a
The book of Ruth begins by saying that the story it relates occurred in the time of the Judges, that is after the Conquest of the Land under Joshua and before the monarchy under Saul, the first king. Hence, in Christian bibles, following the Greek translation of the Old Testament a couple of centuries earlier, it follows Judges and precedes Samuel.
But in the final form of the Hebrew bible it is classes with "The Writings", the third and last of the three major sections. This is important because it reflects the understanding of the Jewish scholars that Ruth was actually written quite late in the last few centuries before Christ, and its primary purpose was to insist on the value of foreign people in God's eyes. Ruth is presented as a highly sympathetic person - a sort of heroine - notwithstanding her origin in Moab, one of Israel's nearest and, by the same token, most hated and despised neighbors. Not only is she a lovely person, but, even more significantly for exclusive-minded post-Exilic Judaism, she becomes the great-grandmother of the great David himself. Ruth 4:17,22. As you scan the book, note how often it is mentioned that she is a Moabite. I counted seven times in four chapters.
Her story is included in the bible to illustrate the same point for which Jonah stands. There God's concern for the Ninevites, a major enemy of Israel in by-gone days, is emphasized. Though the little book of Jonah is included as one of the twelve Minor Prophets, (mostly pre-Exilic) it is fairly certain that it, too, is actually post-Exilic in composition, though the story it tells takes place long before the Exile to Babylon.
The passage from Ruth 1 chosen for today's lesson is specially beloved. Ruth's profession of love for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her insistence on following her back to her home to take care of her in her old age after the death of Naomi's husband and two sons (one of whom was Ruth's husband), is one many used to memorize in the not so very long ago days when people memorized bible verses. It as nothing to do with marriage vows, being rather a profession of faithfulness between two women of different nations, whose relationship to one another is more often antagonistic than loving. Yet it is so moving and seemingly so apropos that it is quite often selected as one of the Scripture lessons to be read at wedding ceremonies.
Today's Gospel from Luke 17:11-19 is making the same point. Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks and glory to God and Jesus. Just as the Moabitess, Ruth, became more faithful to Israel's God than many of the Israelites themselves, so in Jesus’ day, we're told, the despised Samaritans are sometimes better followers of the God who heals regardless of race or creed than the very Chosen People.
