Hangad, a Jesuit group from the Philippines, sings Pananatili, based on the Song of Ruth, which we will pray with today: “Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried.”

Huwag mong naising lisanin kita

Wala 'kong hangaring ika'y mag-isa

Sa'n man magtungo ako'y sasabay

Magkabalikat sa paglalakbay

Mananahan sa tahanang sisilong sa 'yo

Yayakapin ang landasin at bayan mo

Poon mo ay aking ipagbubunyi (hm)

At iibigin nang buong sarili (hm)

Sa'n man abutin ng paghahanap (hm)

Ikaw at ako'y magkasamang ganap (hm)

Ipahintulot nawa ng Panginoon (Panginoon)

Ni kamataya'y maglalaho anino ng kahapon

Dahil pag-ibig ang alay sa 'yo mananatili ako (pag-ibig ang alay sa 'yo mananatili ako)

H'wag nang naising tayo'y mawalay (h'wag nang naising tayo'y mawalay)

H'wag nang isiping (h'wag nang isiping)

Magwawakas ang paglalakbay (magwawakas oh ah ah)

'Wag mong naising lisanin kita

Wala 'kong hangaring ika'y mag-isa

Sa'n man magtungo ako'y sasabay

Magkabalikat sa paglalakbay

Mananahan sa tahanang sisilong sa 'yo

Yayakapin ang landasin at bayan mo

'Wag mong naising lisanin kita (oh)

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 one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or 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 had consideration for 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.

Today’s reading has a sense of familiarity to it. It begins as a tale of misfortune. Natural disaster, families struggling, broken, some far from home. We read in the news, and maybe experience it for ourselves. Perhaps we prefer not to read about it?

In Ruth there is a calling, a willingness to let go of everything to be part of the life Naomi imagines. Can I imagine a time when I have felt called by the Lord to follow a different, and maybe difficult path? What might be my response?

Do I feel ready to respond when the Lord calls on me?

As we listen to the passage again, share the experience of what this little family group is going through and the decisions being made.

“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth will be named in the family tree of Jesus. Who would have made that prophecy?

The women return to Bethlehem at the start of the harvest. A time of promise and plenty. There is always hope.

As you reflect on this experience of prayer, share your feelings with the Lord.

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.