Ancient Israel had lines.
Who belonged.
Who didn’t.
And Moabites?
They didn’t.
Not just different, but unwelcome—
The kind of people you didn’t build a future with.
And then along comes Ruth.
In case you haven’t noticed, we are running a MemberPartner campaign in conjunction with our discourse in the Book of Ruth. It’s a natural fit. The story of Ruth is about:
Belonging
Being and loving outsiders
Making a place for others
Redemption of an impossible situation
Commitment
The story of the Catch is about:
Belonging
Being and loving outsiders
Making a place for others
Redemption of an impossible situation
Commitment
by Marti Fischer
Ruth, and the life we’re meant to live
We talk about kindness.
We admire justice.
We believe in redemption.
But in Ruth, these aren’t ideas. They are actions. And they change everything.
At mealtime Boaz called to her, “Come over here, and help yourself to some food. You can dip your bread in the sour wine.” So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over. Ruth 2:14
by Marti Fischer
Boaz didn’t just feed Ruth. He crossed a line.
“Come over here. Have some bread.”
That’s not a casual invitation. That’s a disruption, because Ruth is a Moabite. Not one of them. Not from the right place. Not carrying the right background. Not someone you naturally sit next to, much less eat with.
So the two of them [Naomi and Ruth] continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
“Don’t call me Naomi [pleasant],” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” Ruth 1:19-21
by Marti Fischer
We often rush Naomi’s story.
We move quickly to the ending—the redemption, the grandson, the lineage of kings. We tie it neatly into hope and move on.
But Naomi didn’t live it that way.
A number of things have stood in the way of our Catches in the last two weeks. Health issues… computer issues… We are sorry for the inconvenience and expect to be back on track by Monday.
IN THE MEANTIME, THANK GOD FOR THIS WEEKEND!
EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!
Last week, we began our journey through the Book of Ruth. It starts with someone arriving in a new place, carrying loss, questions, and uncertainty. Ruth is an outsider. A foreigner. Someone who obviously doesn’t belong.
Last week, we began our journey through the Book of Ruth. It starts with someone arriving in a new place, carrying loss, questions, and uncertainty. Ruth is an outsider. A foreigner. Someone who obviously doesn’t belong.
But what she finds is something unexpected. Not just survival, but a place at the table. A place to belong. And what’s striking is how it happens.
Over the next three weeks, we are going to step into one of the most beautiful and surprising stories in Scripture: the Book of Ruth.
At first glance, Ruth is a small and quiet book. It sits between much larger and more dramatic stories in the Old Testament. There are no armies marching, no prophets confronting kings, no miracles splitting seas. Instead, the story unfolds in fields, homes, and ordinary conversations between people trying to survive loss and uncertainty. Yet within this simple story lies a deep message about belonging.
Several years ago, a young woman arrived in a small town where she knew almost no one. She had left everything behind. Her home. Her extended family. The language and culture that had shaped her life. She moved because the only person she had left in the world was an older relative who was returning to her hometown after a season of loss.
John Fischer The Catch 