Music Info
In Front Of Your Eyes
By Be Still the Earth
Liminal | Echoes Blue Music
One Thing Remains
By Bethel Music
The Loft Sessions | Musicbed (Used with a license)
Script
0:00
TODAY IS FRIDAY THE 20 AUGUST, THE FEAST OF ST BERNARD, IN THE TWENTIETH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Bethel Music sing, ‘One Thing Remains’.
Today’s reading is from the Book of Ruth.
Ruth 1:1,3-6, 14-16,22
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food. Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Can you imagine losing everything like this? What would you do? Who would you cling to?
At moments of despair and desolation like these in our lives, it is the people around us who love and care for us that so often offer a shoulder to cry on and help us to get back on our feet. Who are these people for you?
As you hear this story of unchanging love and loyalty again, try to keep an image of both Ruth and Naomi in your mind and the bond that they share…
So often it is easy to forget those around us, perhaps now would be a good time to acknowledge those people, friends and family who are always there when you need them most. To thank them, and to thank God for them. Open your heart to God as you would to a friend.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.