This gospel today reminded me of the Old Testament story about Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi’s sons married; but both sons died and the daughters-in-law, according to tradition, were free to return to their original homeland. But ever faithful Ruth would not abandon Naomi, saying to her: "Wherever you go I shall go, wherever you live so I shall live; your people will be my people and your God will be my God too."
In the gospel today a young man approached Jesus and asked to follow him. When Jesus told him of the challenges he would face, the young man decided he could not make that commitment.
A disciple voiced his need to bury a family member and Jesus told him to let others handle the burial and for the disciple to follow Jesus then and there, right where they stood.
This gospel and Ruth’s profession of loyalty to her mother-in-law brought to mind the tens of thousands if not millions of persons who faced with the unknown, made a commitment to others out of love.
This calls to mind war brides who have left family and homeland to come to America and start a new life with an America soldier. Like Ruth, they also said: wherever you go I will go, wherever you live so shall I live.
Your people will be my people.
Every day people are uprooted and leave the known, and venture to the unknown out of loyalty and love, proof of the Spirit bestowed upon us by God; the force that compels us to seek to love others and to love God.
Both Scripture readings today reveal for us that God is someone we can engage in conversation; someone we can have a polite exchange with and get to know the mind of God.
In our dialogue with God we have to be open and allow God to set forth his position and believe that God is also listening to us. We saw this happening between God and Abraham and between Jesus and the young man.
As we pray today, alone or with family, dialogue with Jesus, asking what does it mean to go wherever God leads us?
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