Ruth rocks

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today inspire FriarJude Winkler to encourage us to consider Love which holds nothing back. He reminds us that we might be tempted to think that if I love anymore I will have nothing left. The psalmist praises the Love of God through which we justice is obtained for the oppressed, the hungry are fed, the prisoners are freed, the blind see, the humbled are lifted up, the strangers receive hospitality and the outcast receive care. The Book of Ruth inspires readers through an example of how God brings the Love praised by the psalmist to reality. Ruth is a widow, a Gentile, a hated Moabite and a woman of deep love for and commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin includes Ruth as one of the most important people of the Hebrew Bible. The actions of Ruth are a model for life which testifies to the vertical and the horizontal dimension of faith, mentioned by Friar Jude. The Great Commandment proclaimed by Jesus in the text today from the Gospel of Matthew is Love with all our being of God and neighbour. The praise of the psalmist and the description of the Suffering Servant of God in the Book of Isaiah are cited by Jesus (Luke 4.12-22) as He initiates His public ministry. The qualities of patience, hope, commitment, humility and hard work in a person who turns her face toward God are recognized by Lizz CurtisHiggs as qualities to declare that Ruth still rocks today.