October 31, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 31st: Ruth 1:1-18, Psalm 146:1-10, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 Theme: loyalty in our relationships Song: Pass it on UMH 572 Ruth: There are only 4 women mentioned in Jesus lineage by name. Ruth is one of those people. She is not even Hebrew, she is an inlaw – but she loved everything about her mother in law. Perhaps she had no real family, perhaps she comes from an abusive home. For whatever reason, when her husband died, she refused to go home. As a woman, she had no life on her own, she had to survive based on her relationships. Eventually she marries into Ruth’s family and becomes David’s great great grandmother. Her story teaches us a lot of lessons about loyalty and love. Her story demands that as people of faith we need to be sensitive to people in need. Even though they are women, it is a love story. Not only is Ruth healed from her love, but her mother in law also gets a new lease on life. Mark: Jesus is being constantly questioned by the authorities. Jesus does not give the standard answers, but they find that they can’t question his theology. In this scripture they are asking Jesus what the most important teaching is. Love the Lord your God with your all love your neighbor as you love yourself. They don’t have a problem with the first part, but what is the point of loving our neighbor. Eventually Jesus tells them that our neighbor is God in person. Loving our neighbor is unique to Christianity. Others are taught to love family, but not those who are not related to us. But it is the same love that Ruth had for her mother in law. In the eyes of God we are all one family. And when someone is in need, does it really matter if they are related to us in order for us to help them. Jesus takes it one step further, when we help then, we help Jesus – that is the greatest love of all. Questions: Who are the ones who show you love? Who are the ones that you love and take care of? Do you have a relationship with your neighbor? How can you get to know them better?