- Week of 11.19—11.21: (text, pp. 112-17)
- Monday: Ruth 1: 1-18; Ruth 1: 19-22
- Tuesday: Ruth 2: 1-23; Ruth 3: 1-18; Ruth 4: 1-22
- Wednesday: Film, The Power of Myth
Some things to consider:
Brothers,
In the Book of Ruth, we are dealing with the theme of “filial piety”—a fancy way of saying, “family values.” We are also dealing with the themes of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and heroism—virtues that only a matriarch such as Naomi or Ruth could display. As we read, I would like you to keep in mind the strength and courage that these two women display and how their own willingness to fulfill God’s will relates to a female guardian or mother or mother-figure in your life, who has committed to taking care of you.
In an interview conducted by PBS TV journalist, Bill Moyers, the famous historian, Joseph Campbell, says that the act of giving birth is a truly heroic deed. He says this because the mother must in a sense die to herself in order to bring new life into the world—the act of giving birth is thus a commitment that requires a woman’s full attention to and care for a helpless and vulnerable human being. Interestingly, Ruth’s own metaphorical death—through the act of giving birth to Obed—brings hope for new life in a world of bitterness and violence; her deed brings about the birth of David who is ancestor to Christ.
Thus, as the preface to the New American Bible edition of The Book of Ruth notes: “In this, the universality of the messianic salvation is foreshadowed” (229). In other words, the coming of the messiah and the freedom from death through resurrection he guarantees is foreshadowed in the life of Ruth.
That said, please do the following in your notebook (and finish for homework as blog assignment (DUE:
- Define “hero”/ “heroine” What are the characteristics of a hero or heroine in your eyes?
- Make a list of people—men and/or women—in your life who you consider heroes
- Give a brief description of each person and his or her relation(ship) to you
- Then, state why you consider each person a hero or heroine; be specific, especially if your reason for choosing him or her relates to a specific deed. Did this or that person help you get through a difficult time? If so, explain how and why.
- Lastly, do any of these characteristics or characters relate to either Ruth or Naomi, or any of the biblical characters we’ve read about so far? Explain.
In Peace,
BRobPeachFSC
