3rd Monday of Advent (December 12) Boaz. May the LORD reward you

… Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab…
Prepare to Listen.  Light the pink with two purple candles.  Prepare to listen with this reminder: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.
 
Prayerfully Read Ruth 2:1-13
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  2And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favour.’  She said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’  3So she went.  She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers.  As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.  4Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem.  He said to the reapers, ‘The LORD be with you.’  They answered, ‘The LORD bless you.’  5Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’  6The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.  7She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.” So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’
 
8Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.  9Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you.  If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’  10Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’  11But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.  12May the LORD reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’  13Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’
 
Prayerfully Wonder
The story of Boaz and Ruth isn’t a love story along the lines of our western culture.  Boaz didn’t fall in love with the woman stranger working behind his reapers, gathering the gleanings of barley.  Marriages were arranged by heads of families, the feelings of the woman and man notwithstanding.  We know little about Boaz, other than he was rich, prominent in his society, a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, and the son of an alien, Rahab.  We learn about his character from his treatment of Ruth.  He noticed her because she was a stranger and a foreigner.  Perhaps his mother taught him that aliens are not to be feared but welcomed and protected.
 
His asked his servants about her.  They told Ruth’s story and Boaz listened attentively.  He learned of her devotion and sacrificial commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  He was so impressed, he did what he could to ensure that she would glean sufficient grain for herself and Naomi and that his men wouldn’t molest her.  He then said to Ruth, “May the LORD reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!”  Boaz acted as his descendent, Jesus would act.  He welcomed and protected the vulnerable immigrant woman and prayed to God for her.  Boaz shows us the way to treat the strangers in our midst, the same way Jesus treated them, with compassion and hospitality. 
 
Prayerfully Reflect
Be aware of the vulnerable and the strangers today, welcome, protect and pray God’s blessing on them.
 
Respond in Prayer
Lord, reward the immigrants who seek protection and welcome.  May they experience your love through how I love and welcome them.  Amen.
 
Live Obediently.  Like Boaz, welcome and protect the immigrants.