Readings: Ruth 1:1-5, 8-22; 2:1-13; 4:1-17; Ephesians 5:31-32; Matthew 1:1, 5-6

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

In ancient Israel there was no life insurance, no Canada Pension Plan, no Old Age Security, or widows benefits. But there was always family. And in order to take care of the fatherless and the widow the Lord had instituted a practice called the “Kinsman redeemer”. (Deut. 25:5-10; Lev. 25:23-28, 47-55) That is, if a man dies without giving son to his wife so that there would be someone to take care of her in her old age, then his closest male relative makes sure she has a son. He marries her. Of course you can see problems that may be brought about by this arrangement. For though a woman may be your wife, the son is not reckoned as your son, but as the dead man’s son. (Lev. 25:6) And if he already had a wife, does he really want another? Think of the complications… And of top of all that, what if you never have another son of your own, then your land and your relative’s land goes to your “relative’s son”. So you can see why men might be a little weak kneed about doing what the Lord says to do.

17   “You should not presume that I came to put an end to the work and effects of the   
      Law or Prophets; I did not come to destroy [their] works but to totally complete [them].  
18   For truly I say to you, until whenever the heaven and the earth should pass away, one dot 
      or one serif should by no means pass away from the Law, till whenever everything should 
      come into being.  
19   Therefore whoever should take away one of the least of these commandments and should 
      teach men in this way, he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever should 
      do and should teach [them], this one will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  


20   For I say to you that if your righteousness is not excessively more than that of the Scribes 
      and Pharisees, by no means should you enter the kingdom of heaven.  


21   You have heard it was said to those of old, You will not murder and whoever should murder he 
      will be guilty and deserving of punishment.  
22   And I say to you that anyone getting enraged with his brother will be guilty and deserving of 
      punishment; and whoever should say, “You empty-headed fool”, he will be guilty and 
      deserving judgement from the Sanhedrin; and whoever should say, “Moron/fool!” he will be  
      guilty and deserving of the hell of fire.  
23   Therefore if you should bring your gift to the altar and there should remember that your 
      brother holds something against you, 
24   leave your gift in place there before the altar and go first make peace with your brother, and 
      then go offer your gift.  

25   Be coming to terms quickly with your accuser, while you are with him in the road, lest your 
      accuser should hand you over to a judge and the judge to the servant and He will throw you 
      in prison; 
26   Truly I say to you, by no means should you come out from there, until you have paid back the 
      last penny. 

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.   

Anger belongs to God.  We get angry at injustice, especially when it is done to us or those we love.  But lets face it, anger is not ours.  Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.  Though our consciences feel injustice in the world, though they are sensitive to it, we rarely have the right to do anything about it.  For anger belongs to God.  God gives the right to wield sword of justice to governments.  This is why there are peace officers, armies, law codes, and law courts.  But this is also why the statues often seen in court houses of lady justice with her scales are blindfolded.  She is not to judge with her eyes, with her heart, with her biases of anger or love.   She simply weighs the facts in the scales of justice.  And she dispassionately metes out what is right according to the Law.  For true anger against sin, which results in damnation, belongs to the Lord.