“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
This passage from Revelation brings to mind for me many of the stories of fidelity throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. From the first book of the Bible we see God’s fidelity proclaimed to the patriarchs. The covenant is renewed with Moses. The prophets later pick up the theme, emphasizing God’s faithfulness in the face of our human infidelity. But one story came to the forefront for me as I reflected on today’s readings: Ruth.
The very short book of Ruth tells of a Moabite woman who marries a Hebrew man as he dwells in Moab. When her husband and her father-in-law die, her mother-in-law Naomi tells Ruth to return to her mother’s house. Perhaps she can marry again. Naomi sees a possible future for her beloved daughter-in-law in her family of origin. She sees no such future for Ruth with her. However, Ruth refuses to return to her own family. She sojourns with Naomi back to her husband’s home. It was not the prudent thing to do. There was no security in that plan. But Ruth tells Naomi “Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God.” (Ruth 1:16). Thus begins this extraordinary journey of these women. Though a short book, the name of Ruth endures in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Indeed, while not a Hebrew woman herself, she is one of the only women named in the genealogy of Jesus provided in the Gospel of Matthew.
Why do today’s readings bring Ruth to mind? I find in the passage from Revleation a proclamation of God’s fidelity. This is wonderful, salvific news for believers. But our Gospel tells us we are not just recipients of God’s action, we are called to live it ourselves. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34). How does God love? Faithfully, imprudently, without a safety net. God’s love ultimately leads to the cross.
How are we called to love? I am certainly not saying every individual believer should go out of their way to take dangerous personal risks. The cross may come to us if we are faithful, but we don’t have to go looking for it. We just have to be faithful. I look at those who actually feel called to love at great risk—international peacekeepers, doctors without borders, aid workers throughout the world—with profound admiration. They model something of Ruth for me, and Ruth models something of God’s incarnate love. I may need to give more thought to where and how God might be calling me to such love.
Can I love without thinking of “me and my own” first? Can I love without fear that there won’t be enough if I’m generous? Can I love without worrying about whether someone is getting something they don’t deserve? I already know someone who is: through God’s grace and faithful love, it’s me.
In these extraordinary times in my own nation there is a lot of talk about where our shared priorities should be—who gets what? How much is too much? Will there be enough? People of good will can come to different conclusions about specific social actions, but Christians cannot come to different conclusions about our vocation to love, to love faithfully, even imprudently. God’s love is faithful, figures like Ruth show us how to live that fidelity in our own relationships. My prayer today for myself and my fellow Christians is that we might strive, like Ruth, to be rooted always in faithful love, never in fear.
Sara Schulte-Bukowinski
Originally from central Nebraska, where my home diocese of Grand Island nurtured vocations to lay ministry, I pursued Divinity studies and completed my M.Div. at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in 2007. After 12 years doing formation and education in Catholic schools I was able to respond to my vocation in a different way by stepping into my current role as a lay pastoral minister (Parish Life Director) at St. John’s Church on Creighton’s campus. I live in Omaha with my husband Adam, our dog Lilly, and as of 2022 my parents-in-law Ann and George.
In graduate school I was fortunate to take a course from the illustrious theologian and Johannine scholar, Saundra Schneiders. I still remember her talking about the location where ongoing scriptural revelation occurs—in the space between the page and the eyes of the reader. This is where the Divine meets the realities of our lives, in our time and place. I look forward to sharing this encounter together as part of this reflection team.
