Naomi and Ruth offering a way in this time of loss
Last week we celebrated All Saints and All Souls, remembering
and giving thanks for those who have
died, especially over the last year. On Thursday I will join some others at the
RSA to remember the ending of WW1 and to acknowledge the enormous cost to this
land. We too often forget that this was also the start of the Spanish Flu which
killed tens of millions around the world, in part spread by returning troops
from Europe. It was a time of grief, fear, anger, and loss. The world had
changed forever and there was no going back. Remembering our dead involves acknowledging
how hard it was for them and us. These last months have been hard. Our world
has changed. Covid is here to stay. So, we are invited to acknowledge our own grief,
fear, anger, and loss. And we are gifted the Book of Ruth which Bonnie helped
us into last week.
Megan Fullerton Strollo writes of Ruth’s gift to us, “There is much uncertainty, grief, and frustration in our world today—an ever-waxing and waning pandemic, the divisions that arise because of mask and vaccine mandates, … the fears and frustrations with regard to climate change and the grief of loss due to natural disasters …
The blessings at the end of the narrative do not overshadow or eliminate the grief experienced earlier. The good news of the book of Ruth is that blessings can still come even when we are in the midst of grief, in the throws of anger and frustration. Naomi’s story also teaches us that if we’re not ready to acknowledge those blessings, that’s ok.
Those who are not ready to acknowledge blessing—those who are still struggling with the anger and angst of grief and struggle—can find solace these days in Naomi’s story.” [1]
Ruth invites us to acknowledge our grief, fear and sense of loss. But it also invites us to ask what you need to do to find a way to life?
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-31-2/commentary-on-ruth-11-18-5
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