Ruthless, or Ruth. Boaz or Bozo-Relationship advice for the ages

Ruth 1 and 2

How to get a good man and keep them.  If there was one answer that could be universally accepted, half the women’s magazines and targeted books would vanish from the shelves.  Funny enough, I think I see a universal truth for that in our readings from Ruth. I know my little blog post won’t be universally accepted, but I think it may offer insight that applies to both male and female.  The really cool part about this truth is that it requires no fad diet, no expensive cosmetics, and isn’t dependent on being a specific size.  You see, God’s truth doesn’t make money on how crappy you feel about yourself.  It sets you free from that, allowing you to refocus on what makes you eternally attractive. Here we go…

In Ruth 1, we have a famine.  Times are rough for the trio of females that start our story.  All of them are widows, by the way, which in this time where the men are the total providers for the family makes them especially vulnerable.  Naomi, Ruth, and Oprah, left alone in the world.  Oprah leaves, and we don’t know what happens to her, but we are left with Naomi and Ruth.  Ruth is our focus, because Ruth gives us an example of some true beauty. (After all, not only does she get her prince charming- who she is, and what she does, merits a whole book of the Scripture named after her.)  The first thing she does is stick tight to her Mother-in-law.  More than that, she accepts not only her Mother-in-law, but also God.  Let’s forget Ruth’s gender for a moment, because this is a pivotal and universal foundation point of being attractive to someone.  Male or female, we all know it’s easy to be ‘with’ someone (anyone) while times are good.  It’s this moment, when all might seem lost, that the choice of loving someone means the most.  In the modern world, we often fear that when the going gets tough our partner, friends, or family will abandon us.  It was the same then.  So, we see the first hint of Ruth’s beauty in her dedication.  She begs Naomi not to make her leave, she accepts her and her God.  Ruth wants the privilege of staying by her side, through thick and thin.  Given the condition of widowhood, and famine this moment contains a LOT of thin.   That is dedication, and if we yearn for relationships that are of value then this is something we ourselves need to learn from.

In Ruth 2, we begin to see that her beautiful humility and dedication don’t go unnoticed or unrewarded, both by God and by the person around her.  We first see that Ruth, having made this sacrifice, doesn’t feel she deserves to be treated better or be granted anything special.  How many times have we fallen into that trap?  We do something noble, and suddenly expect everyone around us should treat us better or that we deserve more for doing what was right in the first place.  She approaches Boaz’s fields to work to get food for herself and Naomi, asking only to be allowed to get the scraps.  Boaz, being a man of quality as well, and who had been told of Ruth’s dedication, sets her up to be protected and given better.  Ultimately, her dedication, and his wisdom to see that dedication brings them together as husband and wife.  It’s an important pairing, since their son becomes the father of Jesse, who is father of David, and ultimately the root from which the bloodline of Jesus comes from. 

Our focus and point in this writing are the relationship of Ruth and Boaz.  We don’t know what Ruth looked like, she may have looked like she could chew through a fence to get to a piece of corn.  Boaz never remarks on that, he is focused on who she is, and what she has done for his kinswoman.  He sees the quality of her character, and that makes him want her as a wife.  From Ruth’s perspective, we have a man who values her for who she is, and is willing to protect and care for her and her mother in law, not for what she looks like, but for who she is as a person. 

The ultimate relationship tips here, for both genders, are obvious to me and as applicable now as they were then. 

1.       Be dedicated to God, and people.

2.       Do the right thing for the right reasons, without expectation of reward.

3.       Look for that Godliness in your partner.   

A three step, no money down, no cost at all, no being made to feel inadequate in the worldly sense truth on how to get and maintain a beautiful relationship.  The cool thing is that it applies to family relationships, friendships, as well as romantic connections.  They are foundation points of all healthy relationships, and may save you from finding your “Ruthless and Bozo”, instead of your Ruth and Boaz.

Just some food for thought and prayer….

Almighty Father, please grant me the wisdom and strength to be like Ruth and Boaz, wise in seeing eternal and true beauty, let me able to make the commitment to stay by people’s side through famine and feast.  In Jesus name, AMEN!

Here I am, Lord, send me!

Lisa Brandel

The yoke of impossible is an illusion

Luke 1:26-38

I have read todays’ Gospel probably 100 times in my life and walk as a Christian.  In my meditations, I have attempted to “be Mary” in that moment.  One of the things that strikes me about her is that as innocent, and grace filled as she is, she asks the question any of us would when faced with a prophecy/destiny/ God’s will that seems impossible, “How is this to be?”  The humility of the question is beautiful.  “How is this to be?”  and the humanity of the next phrase has echoed through my own life many times, “I have no husband.” 

In our personal journeys with God, how often have we uttered similar?  We have all faced moments in time where God’s will for our lives is apparent to us.  We are supposed to, move, marry, change careers, or fill in the blank with what you have experienced.  At the beginning of the journey we lack understanding of how any of it can happen, “How is this to be?”  and then we follow that with, “I don’t have _____.”  We may feel bad about that questioning after we have accomplished the “impossible”, but today’s scripture shows us we are in really excellent company, as it is even Mary’s first reaction.   

Gabriel’s reply is, not surprisingly, perfect and something we can draw on in our own walk.  The angel points out another example of “impossibility” to Mary and reminds her, which also reminds us, “With God nothing will be impossible.”  In those two simple sentences, we have the key to many things in our lives.  First, as we face impossibility, if we look around to the other ‘saints in training’ past and present who may have been called similarly (if not exactly) to us, we then have a visual example that can bolster our faith.  This is one of the good reasons to study the lives of saints isn’t it?  They weren’t always saints, they were at one point, saints in training faced with real life trials and tribulations.  They were faced with choices about walking in faith or leaning on their own understanding of what is possible.  Looking at the good and the bad way they handled their journey, can be an example to us of what is good, possible, and Holy.   It can also remind us, that what is God’s will, is never impossible. 

The last part is really one of the most important parts for us to learn, Mary’s reply.  She says, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."  Of course, she came to it much quicker than often we do when faced with His will.  In that sentence, we have an example of total submission to God.  We have an example of complete faith. In this case, anything less than that ends the story.  There is no Gospel, there is no Christ, there is no hope of salvation if that submission doesn’t happen.  Without that simple innocent faith, all is lost.

Now, the fate of the world and all the souls that were, or ever shall be, probably doesn’t rest on your answer to God. Which, I don’t know about you, I’m super glad of as I am DEFINITELY not worthy or capable of that kind of function in the kingdom.  At the same time, your answer might make the difference for one person or a handful of people, it may be only you.  Only God knows.  How sad would it be, to lose even one?

Beyond that, let’s us re-examine what we believe is possible and impossible.  Where are you now that you see only impossibility?  Look around you, examine the Sacred Scripture, ask the Lord, seek the wisdom of the people who did it before you, and realize that the yoke of impossibility is yours, not Gods’.  If it is His will, and we have the grace and faith to submit, then He will get the glory of working the impossible in your life too.

Just some food for thought and prayer…

Heavenly Father, I submit to your will in my life today. Make what the world sees as impossible a reality, and grant me the grace to be like Mary in my obedience to Your will. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN!

Here I am, Lord, Send me,

Lisa Brandel 

Between hunger and holiness, forgiveness.

Between hunger and holiness.

Matthew 18:21--19:1

1821Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven

There are many times when I am reading the office of readings or the daily Mass readings the Sacred Scripture reaches up and slaps the teeth out of my mouth with understanding.  The  other day I was having a discussion about the use of Narcan (A drug used to save the lives of people who have overdosed on opioids.)  The person I was speaking to was irate about people who have needed it more than three times and they fell on the side of if the person in question had needed it that many times they shouldn’t be given a fourth time.  In other words, let them die.  Now, being pro-life-all life-and a person who works with this population of people, I vehemently disagree with this.  Where there is breath there is hope for a better tomorrow, so if we can save someone it’s a sin not to.  I fall on the side of Jesus in this.  No one has the right to be judge, jury, and executioner of another human life, especially when that human life is such pain and in need of love and forgiveness.  They fell on the side of the world, whose forgiveness has limits.  How many times should we use Narcan to revive someone?  Seven times seventy.

The world’s patience and forgiveness has limits, God’s doesn’t, and He explains this as the Gospel unfolds today. 

23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."19

We say it every time we say the “Our Father.”  Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. In other words, God, forgive us but only to the level we forgive others.  You say it, we say it, but do we really understand what we are saying?  Let me re-say it and see if it hits you like it hits me…FORGIVE ME, but only to the LEVEL I FORGIVE OTHERS.  Really let that sink in. 

People think that if you preach a loving and forgiving Christ you are talking about some bland vanilla marshmallow, but that kind of radical forgiveness is anything but that.  It means keeping the evil you have been forgiven of in the front of your mind to keep you humble.  To remind you that but by the grace of God go you.  It means between the hunger for revenge for those who have trespassed against you placing the understanding that your debts were paid in blood.  And again-your debts were paid in BLOOD, not yours, but the very God who you are looking at and saying someone else doesn’t deserve forgiveness for the little things they have done to you.  That takes stones, doesn’t it? 

We are all God’s children.  It doesn’t matter what our skin color is, or our special brand of sin is, we can all be redeemed by the power and limitless love of our Messiah.  I fell on the side of God that one time, but I have to keep making the choice to keep doing that, to set my ego aside and remember how much I was forgiven.  The hunger I have for holiness must always outweigh my hunger for revenge, and that must be a daily choice. 

Before I close in prayer, let me say that this does not mean we accept evil in the world, but it does mean that as we fight evil in the world we must keep our hearts right, or we lose by default. 

Father, let me see the people around me as you do so my forgiveness and compassion can be holy and complete.  In Jesus name, AMEN. 

Here I am, Lord, send me!

Lisa Brandel

Magnify God, like Mary, as only you can

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10

When St. John wrote about seeing the Ark I am sure the contemporary readers, some of who were at that point not believers, were astonished.  The Ark had been lost for some time at that point so a promise of it’s return must have been more than amazing.  Yet, as he writes on, he doesn’t describe the box laden with gold and angels as was described in the old books.  He describes a woman, clothed in light with the moon at her feet.  He doesn’t describe the word of God written on tablets, but describes a child, the Living Word of the Almighty.  (Because that’s what the Ark was, a vessel to carry the living word of the God.)  We believe the woman described in this passage is Mary, as she carried Jesus in her womb, and the crown she wears of twelve stars (twelve tribes) symbolizes her act as the crowning achievement of the tribes of Israel, which is to bring the Messiah (aka the Living Word) forth to the world.   

In our Gospel reading we are allowed to see how this looked in the earthly realm, which we as Catholics also call Mary’s Magnificat (Magnifcat=My soul magnifies [The Lord]).   

Luke 1:39-56

In the Gospel of Luke, Elizabeth and Mary both prophesy.  Elizabeth feels her child leap for joy through the power of the Holy Spirit.  “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” She also says, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."  Mary knows she is right and very humbly replies, “ And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

We connect those two readings, I believe correctly, which is why we hold Mary as being the most blessed servant of the Lord.  Notice, my Protestant brothers and sisters, I did not say worship.  It was said that she would be called blessed by all generations, and we do.  Without her obedience and humility, there is no Gospel.  Without her belief that God would accomplish through her this mysterious work, there is no hope for us.  So, it’s in her obedience and faith we were given the hope of salvation.

There is a personal application here, as well, when we consider Mary today.  We are not all called to carry the Messiah to the world the way she did, but we ARE all called to carry Him to the world.  We may feel unworthy or incapable of the task.  Mary did for the Lord at age 12-14 years old, what only she could do.  No other could have done what she did, no other had the faith, she had all that was needed to accomplish this miracle.  Now, I want you to consider that, and realize that while we may not be THAT, there are things, places, people, and circumstances that ONLY WE can reach.  There are people out there that need YOU, specifically YOU and no one else might do.  You are called, you are needed, in a similar but unique to you way that Mary was.  Just like Mary, if you do not reply with a generous “YES” the story may well stop there. 

This is why we look to Mary, sometimes, to remind us, and be a picture of what obedience and faith can do.  Hers’ gave the hope of salvation to the world.  Yours may well give that to just a single person, but to God that person is the world.

Heavenly Father, let my obedience and faith be as Mary’s was when she accepted the task you laid before her, and may that magnify you, Oh my Lord.  In Jesus precious name, AMEN!

Here I am, Lord, send me!

 Lisa Brandel

Transfigured, Transformed, ready or not?

Matthew 17:1-9

The miracle of the transfiguration.

When I read today’s reading, meditating on it, I came to think about how much it must have meant and how powerful that experience was for the Apostles that were privileged to see Jesus in this way.  It’s obvious in their reaction, they want to build three alters! (Who wouldn’t if they saw something so Holy!)  As I built the scene in my mind, I suddenly realized something…not all the Apostles are there.  Peter, James, and John are the only three people who follow the Messiah are allowed to see this glory.  This is something I think we need to consider as we read this passage.

I want us to reflect, for a moment, about seeing Jesus in His Glory-this transfigured way.  This form exists in Him, is Him, all the time yet before us (the people around him at the time) He appears as any man might.  Consider how different the story might be if, from his baptism by St. John, He appeared as He did in the moment of transfiguration all the time.  How would that have changed the Gospel?  I think we have hints scattered through the Old and New Testament as to why He didn’t come first in Glory.  The first of which, I believe, is found in this verse itself.  It was so obvious once I thought about it, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it the first dozen times I’d read the scripture. 

The first thing we need to realize, is that of all His disciples and followers He picks only three to see Him in this way.  Which, if we are paying attention to Matthew 17:11-13, this begins to make sense. 

Matt 17: 11-13

¹¹Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹²But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." ¹³Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

“And they did not recognize him” stands out to me as does “Then the disciples understood.”  Peter, James, and John, all three recognized Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as they saw them in this way.  They later understood what had happened, and what Jesus was speaking about.  In other words, they were ready for the revelation given to them.  This was not an accident, surely, but something Jesus knew about where they were, and who they were in their spiritual journey with Him.  The people in general did not recognize St. John the Baptist for who and what he was, they were not ready.  They did not understand.  Now, here is the kicker…because they weren’t ready, because they didn’t understand, St. John was beheaded.  Because we weren’t ready for St. John, we then were not ready for Jesus.  What seems to happen when we aren’t ready and then are exposed to Holiness and truth is that we reject, sometimes violently, the Holiness and truth.  Peter, James, and John were ready.  They had the right heart.  They fell and worshipped and wanted to mark the spot as Holy.  They accepted, they understood.  Jesus knew the strengths and weaknesses of all his Apostles and at this point those three were ready to fully receive and understand his great revelation.

So, this brings me back to us now.  As I meditate on this scripture I ask myself, am I ready?  We talk a lot about looking forward to Christ’s return.  He will come again in Glory, we say.  In His Glory, He will be as He was when He transfigured, so my question for myself and for all of us is this: Am I ready to receive him, will I understand His great revelation, or will I reject violently the Holiness I see?  It’s a big question, with eternal consequences.

Father, I beg you to make me ready. Allow me to be as Peter, James, and John, ready to receive and able to understand.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Here I am, Lord, send me,

Lisa Brandel