Twenty-third Sunday after pentecost 31st October 2021

Ruth 1: 1-18

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband. Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had consideration for his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people.’ But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 

So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
   or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;  where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 
 Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
   and more as well, if even death parts me from you!’ 
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.  

Mark 12.13-17, 28-34

 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him. 

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. 

Reflection:

 The book of Ruth could be read as a ‘short story’ and it is possible good to read as a whole rather than break it down into smaller portions. It is set at a time in history that questions how foreigners could ever become worshippers of Israel’s God. It tells the story of Ruth a foreigner and her mother-in-law Naomi who is Jewish. After Naomi’s husband and also her two sons die, Ruth makes a brave decision to stay with Naomi and to take Naomi’s people as her people and Naomi’s God as her God.  I suggest that decisions about faith and loyalty be they in regard to God or other human beings, are rarely taken with a secure knowledge of how things will work out. Nor are they made without some cost. Ruth’s story demonstrates this as we hear of her sacrifice and her faithfulness.

Ruth chooses to continue journeying into the future together with Naomi. This story is inspiring as Ruth vows to be devoted to Naomi, her people and her God. Ruth is willing to leave her own people, culture and land to stay with her mother-in-law who is a widow with little prospect before her. This surely would have been a difficult choice, not knowing what the future will hold and seemingly not needing the security or safety that she could have if she were to leave Naomi and return to her own people.

Certainly some theologians suggest that the depth and cost of Ruth’s commitment foreshadows the faithful commitment of God to his people. For me, I feel that the story of Ruth calls us to examine what we hold precious and what we commit to in our life. Do we tend to hold onto the things in life that are familiar and comfortable? Or are we willing to journey to a foreign land with God as our guide?  Ruth helps us to consider the things in life that are key to us.

In a strange way this then leads us to the Gospel reading set for today. There is an obscurity in the first few verses as we see that Jesus making a distinction between the ‘things of this world’ and the ‘things of God.’ There is no clear meaning. Is Jesus validating the separation of church and state or perhaps offering a criticism of oppressive worldly powers? Perhaps he is seeking to expose the dishonesty of his opponents and their unjust exploitations.

But you see, the issue at stake was not taxes in general. First-century Jews paid lots of different taxes. These were mostly paid with no complaining. Taxes were an expected part of life. The question asked of Jesus revolved around the Imperial tax paid to the Romans who occupied Israel. Jesus’ audience is likely divided in their strongly-held convictions about whether or not it was right to pay this particular tax. Therefore, no matter how Jesus answered, it would seem, he would offend someone, which is, of course, the plan. 

We know that the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders are looking for a way to arrest Jesus. They are pretty crankie with him at this point in the story because in the previous verses, they knew he had just spoken a parable against them amongst other things. But they were afraid of the crowd; so, they left him and went away…. They are trying to find ways to trap Jesus…

The answer Jesus now gives, however, turns the tables on them instead. Because Jesus’ response puts their question back on his challengers…and even on us. Everything, after all, is God’s. How we deal with our worldly wealth, how we engage government, how we conduct our everyday affairs… These things not only matter, Jesus argues, but also reflect our relationship with and trust in God. So, then the question arises - how does our belief that all things are God’s govern our lives and the way we live in the world?

 ‘Give to the emperor those things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.’ Ambiguous? Yes, but so is this life. We may well try to discern what is right and work to do it. But if we are realistic the uncertainty of our life in this world makes it challenging, we make mistakes, we make ungodly choices, we are after all human! But remember the good news is that we can turn from the mistakes we might make to hear the definite and powerful words of absolution. Through the proclamation of God’s forgiveness to us, we can know ourselves to be loved, forgiven. Of course, we then find ourselves once again, in the struggle to live out God’s kingdom in the kingdom of this world. We are called back to follow Jesus, to bring him honour in all or thoughts words and actions.

The challenge for us is beyond the material matters of money to what else in our lives must we surrender to emperor as it were. Particularly in the last 18 months we have had many times whereby the rules of the land have been confronting to our freedom and right to be and do what we want. Our rights matter! Or do they? How do we offer ourselves to God and for the welfare of others? What do we deem necessary so that we can love God with all our heart and our neighbour as our self. And, in line with this teaching, I wonder if surrendering to the law of the land is as much important as surrender to the law of God.

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy from the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second commandment is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. 

For me I am certainly motivated by todays scriptures to contemplate these questions? 

How do we surrender our lives to God? 

How do we love him with our whole heart, and serve him with all that we are? 

How do we remain faithful to then love our neighbour as ourselves? 

Challenging words at any time of life but especially for us as we live in the world today.

 May God add his blessing to these words and guide our thoughts as we ponder them. Amen