SERMONS

By Reverend Angela L. Ying
Ruth 1:1-19; Mark 12:28-34

During my sabbatical, I learned a new four letter word – Yoga

In yoga, you need to first sit still – which is easier for some than others.

You need to breathe and be aware you are breathing.

You need to stretch where you have not stretched yourself before.

You need to learn to let go and welcome the experience that comes in living life.

My mother wondered about me as she drove with me one day. Instead of growing agitated and anxious at the traffic light – I tried the healing chakra of “OM.” And sure enough, before I could say “om” several times, the light changed. Strange, now instead of thinking “what a waste of time sitting at the light” — I was given a chance to see from a different perspective – outside of my comfort zone.

In today’s text, which is part of the ecumenical lectionary, three women are thrust into a situation that puts them outside their comfort zone. They did not see it coming. It simply happens, as life often does.

The three women, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah had formed a community for nine years. Nine years they had been together in the land of Moab. Naomi and her husband and two sons had emigrated to Moab because of a famine in Judah – during the time of the judges. Naomi’s two sons, Chilion and Mahlon from Bethlehem, had taken Moabite wives, Orpah and Ruth, and supported the family after the death of their father, Elimelech.

But after nine years of being together, Naomi’s two sons die leaving Naomi bereft of her two sons and her husband. Given those biblical times, Naomi was dependent on the men in her life for food, clothing and shelter. When they die, she is left with nothing. Nothing but her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.

What to do?

Naomi decides that since the famine no longer exists in her homeland, she will return to Bethlehem. It will be hard for people who knew her before will know Naomi has changed – and now she is without the support of her husband, Elimelech and her two sons.

As Naomi sets out from the land of Moab to make the journey to Bethlehem by herself, she tells her two daughters-in-law to go and return to their homes in Moab.

For Naomi understands that she can no longer support the two women as her sons would have done. It is impossible in her time and at her age — utterly impossible.

The grief is deep and the women know it. They lifted their voices and wept.

Initially, Orpah and Ruth say to Naomi that they will stay and return with Naomi to her homeland of Bethlehem. This is almost too much for Naomi – for already taking the full responsibility upon herself — she hasn’t a clue how she will support her two daughters-in-law, even if they would stay.

“Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me?” In other words, Naomi believed she had nothing left to offer the two women, now widows, as she. No, it is much better for them to go and return home. Naomi had made up her mind. Less risky, less painful, less uncomfortable for all.

Then the three women again lifted up their voices and wept.

Orpah accompanied them part of the way, but then makes her own choice to leave. As Naomi in her grief had shared, it is too hard to stay. What was there for Orpah if she stayed in community? For Orpah, she sees no reason to stay. Once her husband is dead, what had held Orpah to the others is gone. For neither Naomi nor Ruth can give Orpah what she herself needs in community. Orpah goes back to what she is familiar with – her way of living with people like her.

Neither the biblical text nor God judges Orpah on her choice to leave, and thus, we are asked not judge Orpah for leaving her community. Things had changed and Orpah felt more comfortable with how things were and how things had been. So, she leaves the community she had belonged to – in hopes of finding a life within her comfort zone.

You may ask – did Ruth and Naomi do something to make Orpah leave? Of course not! Orpah makes her own decision and leaves out of her own free choice.

So often in fairy tales or even the great American Westerns, there is a good guy and a bad guy – and it is always clear from the white horse and the black hat who the evil one is.

We learn to point our fingers in accusation, perhaps to make us feel better about ourselves — and cheer for the so-called “good guy.” But what if, as in real life, we do not know the whole story? And who of us, really, is ever given the whole story?

As a parent, I have slowly learned not to jump to conclusions too fast. For how many times have we walked into a room only to see a child push or hit another child? If we can sustain the tension of being outside our comfort zone, we will learn to ask both children, “What happened here?” Not assuming that the child caught in the act is the one to blame.

And yet, how many times have we made the grave mistake of blaming the one we saw caught in the act, never suspecting that the second child may have actually provoked the first child.

Though we may look at Naomi, Orpah and Ruth with the hopes of finding someone to blame for Orpah leaving – there is none.

Our biblical story, unlike a classic fairy tale, does not offer a good guy vs. bad guy option. It does not take us through a long litany of why Orpah leaves her community.

Somehow, God has more faith in us as people of God, and understands that communities transform and grow – always changing and evolving. And the ability to live with ambiguities is a part of life.

This is not easy for those who like being in control or better yet, are used to being “in the know.” Perhaps, even God does not want that much control or God would not have created human beings – capable of sin, repentance and forgiveness.

No, Naomi and Ruth are not to be blamed as the reason Orpah leaves. She simply leaves by her own choice.

In fact, Naomi sees Orpah leave, loves her enough to let her leave, and then suggests Ruth do the same. Naomi is wise and loving enough to understand that if she makes Orpah stay – Orpah will eventually come to resent it.

What future is there in being outside of our comfort zone in which we know for certain, we are not in control?

We watch and wait – prepared now for Ruth’s inevitable departure from her present community.

But … it never happens.

Ruth stays. Ruth, as a foreigner, had left communities in the past – in order to remain in her comfort zone or at least to maintain a sense of control and comfort in her life. Maybe this time, Ruth chooses, to her community’s surprise, to stay in community, with the painstaking realization that Ruth will need to withstand possibly further grief, judgment and even being misunderstood.

Ruth understood that in her time a woman without a man was next to nothing. So why in the world would Ruth dare to withstand not being popular, not being the “nice” girl and not making people happy?

You ever wonder …

Perhaps, Ruth stays in community because Ruth senses she is called to a purpose far larger and vast than herself. God’s purpose is not just about her.

The wise and experienced Naomi knows the risk to be outside of one’s comfort zone. She instructs Ruth that to follow her back to the unknown means there are no guarantees and no safety nets and perhaps, no future.

But Ruth does not expect her community to provide everything for her or to give her all the answers. She does not live believing Naomi is perfect and will never disappoint or make her think or be uncomfortable.

No, Ruth knows what being in authentic community is – with all the joys and disappointments intertwined together.

As a foreigner who is used to being on the outside — when Ruth loses her husband – she chooses not to cut the cord from her community because for Ruth – there never were any strings attached.

Ruth’s purpose in staying has to do less about getting what she wants in the community and leaving if those needs are not met — and more to do with love – deep love – which comes from being in faithful community with those strangely different than ourselves.

I am sure, Ruth, as Orpah, would have been just fine had Ruth left Naomi and her community.

And yet, scripture shows us time and time again when we, as sinners and saints alike, dare to live outside of our comfort zones – God without using any words – meets us. Not within our carefully controlled, comfort zone, but OUTSIDE it!

How strange is that?

Ruth makes her choice to stay in community based not on how the community presently impacts her and her needs — as in “am I getting what I want?” Ruth chooses based on how her life and her growing faith in God will impact four generations after her. That’s right – FOUR GENERATIONS.

For Ruth may never live to see her great grandchild, David, the shepherd boy, become king – the only leader to unite the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

She knows that she may never see the fruits of her labor – which makes her choice to stay in community, not only strange, unpopular, and unexpected – it makes all the difference in the world. Ruth as an outsider never has the privilege to up and leave when things get tough, for she is usually the one who is left.

Have you asked yourselves, why you are here in this community?

Perhaps as Orpah, the Bethany community is what you need at the present time – and some day when this community no longer meets your specific needs – you will choose to leave.

On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, you are here in this amazing, but not at all perfect, Bethany community not only to simply meet your needs (which there is nothing wrong about that) — but rather because you and I have been called to embrace and live out by faith, a much larger purpose that includes at least four generations that will follow.

Is that possible?

With human beings, no, it is not possible. But with God, all things are possible.

Will we seize the moment to come together amidst all the unknowns — to grow, with God’s help, a church community that will impact not just our lives, but the lives of generations to follow? For Ruth was not only the great grandmother of King David. This foreigner’s faith and lineage connected Ruth through thirty-two generations to Jesus Christ, as recorded in the gospels, Matthew and Luke.

God loves us so much – God lets you and me choose for ourselves.

That is love. That is a God who knows how to live outside our comfort zone. That is a God who dares to go outside God’s own comfort zone, because God loves us!

Will Bethany be as Orpah, as so many other churches that have come and gone? — An ordinary church that does its best to meet the needs of its members and closes its doors when the last member’s needs no longer can be met.

OR — you knew this was coming —

Will Bethany have the faith and perseverance of Ruth and Naomi which stays close to God and dares to span four —

No, eight times four generations?!

I do not know the answer – I am only the pastor.

But this I do know. If it had already been decided that Bethany’s purpose was meeting our members’ needs with the option to leave when our needs are no longer met — I would not have come back. For in these last four and a half months on sabbatical, I have sensed God’s presence numerous times outside – not inside- my comfort zone.

Earlier during my time in Taipei, my sister and I took our husbands and children to the 2/28 Peace Park Memorial and Museum — A memorial to remember the more than 250,000 Taiwanese people who had been executed by Governor Chen Yi and who had lost their lives under the order of the Nationalist Chinese dictator, Chiang Kai-Shek from 1947-1948.

From 1895 to 1945, Taiwan had been ruled by Japan. But with World War II and Japan’s defeat, the Nationalist Chinese came to Taiwan.

Unlike the Japanese who had at least educated the people, the Nationalist Chinese were brutal and corrupt. Not only that — the Taiwanese people were not allowed to speak Taiwanese or Japanese or live out their own cultures.

Only Mandarin was to be learned and spoken and anyone who attempted to speak their native tongue was jailed, blacklisted or severely fined. Mismanagement and corruption by the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomingtang (KMT) led to inflation and unemployment.

Out went the Japanese and Taiwanese languages, arts and cultures, and in came the Nationalist Chinese, overnight. Anything that was not Chinese was considered a threat to Chiang Kai-Shek and the KMT.

This went on for nearly fifty years with Chiang Kai-shek electing himself to five – six year terms and then his son after him. No Taiwanese was allowed to vote or have voice against the KMT, with martial law in full effect to keep the people silent – something that would last until way into the 1990’s.

What was this? This was not the story I was told or read in my American history books, who in support of Chiang Kai-Shek, said that he was “for democracy” and left China to rid Taiwan of “anti-communists.”

And yet, on Feb 28, 1947, hence 2/28, after a fateful incident of police brutality that left a Taiwanese person dead on the street – there were widespread protests against the violence of Chiang Kai-Shek and his self-appointed KMT government.

Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT pretended to negotiate, and in March 1947, shortly after 2/28 — Chiang Kai-Shek had 50,000 troops — you heard right, 50,000 troops arrive from China and subjected Taiwan and its people to a reign of terror — eliminating an entire generation of Taiwan’s doctors, lawyers, journalists, business people, ministers, professors, teachers and students.

Though it was hard to stomach even though we knew some of the stories, my sister and I held each other and wept as we listened to how hundreds of thousands of loved ones had been taking away by Chiang Kai-Shek’s military and never seen again.

My sister and I mentioned to our parents, after our experience, how powerful the 2/28 Taiwanese peace park memorial and museum was – and we wondered if the two of them would come with us and see it.

Initially, our parents said, “No, thank you.” They had lived through it all in what was called the “White Terror.” As Naomi, they did not believe they had anything left to give my sister and me.

But we persisted until — my mother and father realized this might be the one chance we had to go together.

On the last and hottest day we were in Taiwan, before we flew to Japan the following morning, the entire family journeyed to the Taiwanese 2/28 Peace Park Memorial and Museum together – clinging to each other, as Ruth and Naomi, in hopes that we would be able to sustain what lie ahead.

I had my doubts about whether it was right to bring our parents to the 2/28 peace park memorial and museum. Perhaps, I had done it for myself? Perhaps, I wanted to know something more about who my parents were? Would I regret asking them to step outside their comfort zone? Was it too much for them? For us? We did not know. We could not know.

Not until we made the choice to stay together and step into the unknown — would we come to know.

Walking through each room as I had done weeks before, I kept an eye on my parents. It was not until we got to the sixth room (which in Taiwanese, the number six is lucky or blessed) that I watched as my father stopped and fell slowly to the floor.

Perhaps, the photos of friends who had lost their lives for love had been too much. But then, my father told all of us to gather around him, for in front of him to his complete amazement and surprise was a photo of the First General Assembly taken on May 1, 1946. Something I had simply walked past the first time I had come.

On May 1, 1946, before Chiang Kai-Shek brought over his 50,000 troops and military force, there was a First General Assembly of representatives of the Taiwanese people. These were highly educated, professional men, who had been elected by the people of Taiwan. Concerned about the future of Taiwan with a dream to be self-governing as a people, these men gathered for the purpose of figuring out how Taiwan should be governed, following Japan’s departure.

This significant photo of Taiwan’s elected representatives and leaders would be used less than a year later in 1947 by Chiang Kai-Shek and the KMT government to begin killing almost everyone in this photo.

“Look! Your paternal grandfather is in this photo of the First General Assembly,” my father shared. And smiling at our seven year old daughter, he showed her — yes, her great grandfather, one of the representatives of the people of Taiwan who had been elected by the Taiwanese people before World War II.

I have no memory or photo of my paternal grandfather, and yet, there he was – in the very photo in front of my father in the 2/28 Taiwanese Peace Park Memorial and Museum.

I would have been just fine had I left Taipei after seeing the museum the first time. I would never have known what I missed.

But I didn’t!

And we at Bethany do not have to miss what God has in store for us as a diverse and intergenerational community. For it will take each and every one of us choosing to stay together while moving outside our comfort zone — to truly see how God is present and at work in our community. Yes, a God who loves enough to go outside not just our comfort zone – but outside God’s comfort zone – to show us life anew.

I’m here to stay – Are you?