Jesus, our Blessed Redeemer

June 14, 2020

Sunday June 14, 2020

Message: Jesus, our Blessed Redeemer

Reverend Glynis Faith

Ruth 1 (select verses)

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth 3 (select verses)

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I.

Ruth 4 (select verses)

Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

MESSAGE

The book of Ruth is a beautiful story of love. It is a story filled with tragedy and loss. It highlights the creativity of the women and the kindness of the ‘hero’ Boaz. Tragedy and loss are met with redemption, and the characters live happily ever after.

Oh yes, and from this mixed marriage came a son, Obed, a grandson, Jessie and a great-grandson, whom we know as King David. David, through whose royal line Jesus would be born into.

This is a fairly short book in the Bible. I would encourage you to open it up and read it through, and I would be happy to hear your thoughts on the story as a whole.

Today, on this special celebration of Communion, we are going to look specifically at the sacrifices of the characters and the blessings of redemption.

Similar to today, the people of this time sometimes emigrated to better care for their families needs. Naomi and her husband were one of these families, leaving everything behind to escape a famine. With their two sons they settled into the land of Moab, and eventually the sons each married.

Tragedy is often thought to come in threes, which was the case for this family. First Naomi’s husband dies, and then each of the sons die, leaving three widows.

There was no federal or provincial social assistance in those days, and women were generally dependant upon their parents or husbands to care for them. If they became widowed, their sons and their families would care for them.

Naomi was separated from her paternal family, her husband was dead, and now both sons were gone.

Her greatest resource now would be her daughter’s-in-law. If they remarried it could provide her some security.

But as we see in our readings, Naomi frees her daughters-in-law of their responsibility to her. She selflessly sends them home to their parents that they may freely start again without any baggage, and she blesses them.

Naomi’s love releases the young women of their obligations, accepting the burden that lies ahead of her, that those she has grown to love might have new life. It was a remarkable selfless act!

One daughter accepts the gift, but Ruth does not. Ruth stands true to her vows and her obligations to her mother-in-law, declaring, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

It is difficult for us to fully understand the sacrifice Ruth is willing to make to honour her late husband and to honour his responsibilities to his mother. Ruth is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her – there is no welfare, unemployment, foodbanks or soup kitchens. Unless family and community honoured their responsibilities to care for the widows and the vulnerable, life for an unwed woman caring for her widowed mother-in-law would be a difficult one. Ruth accepts this fate. Another selfless act!

We catch a glimpse of what Ruth’s life would have been like, but not enough to realize the long-term cost. Gleaning the fields for the food left behind was a humbling and difficult task. When you read the story you might note how Boaz attempts to make her labour easier, and his respect for her sacrifice to her mother-in-law.

And what would they do when the harvest was done? And what about protection? (again, when you read the story, note how Boaz encourages her to stay in his fields and promises her protection from those who might prey upon her) And how many years can one glean fields before the body wears out? And what are the chances of this humble foreigner, who picks up scraps to eat, finding a new husband?

It is not looking good for young Ruth and Naomi!

But then hope shines through the picture. Ruth has found favour in the fields of their kinsman redeemer, or next of kin, Boaz.

They may not have had social assistance in those times, but the Laws of Moses called for the people to honour and care for family. Kinsmen had both the privilege and the responsibility to redeem, care for, restore and preserve family property (and yes, women were considered property to be cared for)

So, Noami prepares Ruth to appeal to Boaz for redemption, which would guarantee both of their safety and care in the future.

This story is filled with the tragedy of loss and helplessness but ends with redemption. This is a love story, filled with examples of self-sacrifice that lead to joyful new beginnings.

This story points to Christ, our Redeemer. Christ calls us brothers, sisters, family, and Christ goes to the Cross for us. In self-sacrificing love, Christ gave His life to redeem His brothers and sisters – to redeem you – to redeem me.

God word is clear, all have strayed and fallen short of His glory. We are all sinners and we all need His saving grace.

So, as we come before God to share in the sacrament of Communion, as we remember the cost of our sins upon the Cross, let us be honest with God and ourselves, and let us receive these gifts with great reverence, joy and thanksgiving. AMEN

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. The words are on your screen, please sing along at home.

Hymn #687 Blessed Assurance

Words: Fanny J. Crosby (1820 -1915) Music: Phoebe Knapp (1839 -1908)

Words: public domain

Music: public domain

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long;
this is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long;
this is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

This is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long;
this is my story; this is my song: praising my Saviour all the day long.

#332 How Great Thou Art

Words: Carl Gustav Boberg; translation Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989); Korean, Myung Ju Yue; Ojibway, Stanley Williams (1918 -); Mohawk, Josephine S. (Konwenne) Day (1905-) Music: Swedish folk melody; harmony, Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989)

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on a cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And there proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Hymn #674 In the Bulb there is a Flower

Words: Natalie Sleeth (1930-1992) Music: Natalie Sleeth (1930-1992)

In the bulb there is a flower, in the seed, an apple tree,
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning, in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing, in our life, eternity,
in our death, a resurrection, at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING ~ (Words on the screen – please follow along, repeating the words in bold print)

The Lord be with you.

And with you also.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth, with joy we give you thanks and praise. Through the words of your prophets you gave your people hope by promising them the Redeemer.

And now we rejoice that in your Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour has come, and will come again in power and glory, making all things new.

How great are your ways, almighty God.

How great is your name, O Holy One. You alone are God.

And so, with apostles and prophets and that great cloud of witnesses who live for you beyond all time and space, we lift our hearts in joyful praise: (saying)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

You sent him into this world to satisfy the longings of your people for a Saviour, to bring freedom to the captives of sin, and to establish justice for the oppressed.

Christ came among us as one of us, taking the lot of the poor, sharing human suffering.

We rejoice that in His death and rising again, you set before us the sure promise of new life, the certain hope of a heavenly home where we will sit at table with Christ, our host.

Lord, we lift our prayers of intercession before you:

Give endurance to those separated from loved one.

Grant all who mourn with comfort and peace. We pray especially for the family of the late Sandy Boyce and the family of the late Dunc Brown.

Plant seeds of hope in the hearts of those whose lives have been turned upside down.

May those who have been negatively affected financially by shut downs, find new resources to carry them through this time.

Bless those who seek peaceful ways to change injustices in our world and bless those who have suffered injustice.

When we cannot literally reach out and hug one another, help us to hug one another through prayer, wrapping them in blessings.

And Lord, we trust You will bridge the distance that separates each of us as we celebrate the sacrament of Communion together today. May Christ’s presence be experienced by each of us as we celebrate this Sacrament of remembrance.///

And now, in remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we take this bread and this cup and give you praise and thanksgiving as we proclaim the mystery of faith, saying aloud together…

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, that this bread and this cup may be true symbols for us of the body and blood of our Lord, and that we, and all who share this feast, may be one with Christ and he with us.

Fill us with the joy of eternal life, that we may be your faithful people until we feast with you in glory.

Joining our voices in praise, we say together:

Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour are yours, Almighty God for ever and ever Amen.

As our Lord taught us, we now pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our debts

as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, and ever. AMEN