Voices Found: Following the God Who Provides

 

Voices Found # 87

All who hunger gather gladly, holy manna is our bread.

Come from wilderness and wandering. Here in truth we will be fed.

You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food,

Taste and see the grace eternal, taste and see that God is good.

All who hunger, never strangers, seeker, be our welcome guest.

Come from restlessness and roaming, here in joy we keep the feast.

We that once were lost and scattered in communion's love have stood.

Taste and see the grace eternal.  Taste and see that God is good.

Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan (1955-1993)

Music: Holy Manna, from The Southern Harmany, 1835, acc. Margaret Mealy

Ruth 3:1-18 and Luke 8:1-3 are appointed in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church for Proper 15B

Ruth was hungry and tired.  She and Naomi, her mother-in law,  had been wandering as refugees, fleeing famine in Moab. As impoverished widows, they were seeking respite from a punishing journey.  Naomi brought Ruth to  Boaz, a relative of her dead husband, hoping he would  redeem the widow according to Jewish custom. With compassion, Boaz said, "And now, my daughter, fear not; all that you have spoken I will do for you, for all the assembly of my people know you are a warrior-hearted woman.  (Ruth3:11) Even though she was a foreigner, a Moabite, he  offered  to care for her according to Jewish tradition,  and proposed to make her his wife if there were no objections from other kin. No longer hungry, they gave thanks to The God Who Provides.

Reflection:

Now after [a woman anointed his feet] Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the reign of God.  The twelve were with him.  There were also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.  (Luke 8:1-3)

Meditation:

Voices Found #21

God of the women who walked Jesus's way,

giving their resources, learning to pray,

Mary, Joanna, Susanna, and more--

may we give freely as they did before.

Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Music: Slane

Mary, Joanna, and Susanna followed Jesus in his way of love.  They offered praise and gifts in thanksgiving for curing infirmities and evil spirits. Just as Mary brought her gift of ointment and fragrance, God asks us to bring what we have, what we can give.  Ask God to show you the gifts you you can offer. 

Thank you, O Great Provider, for my own special gifts.  Help me  share them  as a fragrant offering to you, for all to share.