ACC ~ Matthew 1 v5

THE UNION OF RUTH AND BOAZ BROUGHT FORTH A ROYAL NATION

ANONYMOUS: As for Salmon, which is interpreted “take the vessel,” what son did he beget from Rahab? Boaz is interpreted as “in strength” or “strength in him” or “showing strength.” At God’s command Boaz took as his wife Ruth, who had been provided by God. In strength he brings forth children who are strong in themselves and distinguished. But those who take wives provided by the devil (i.e., with no awareness of religion) and who are not faithful bring forth children in feebleness. They are neither prominent nor strong except in doing evil. As punishment for their impious ways, they seem to have brought forth children neither in joy nor in consolation.

And so, Boaz took as his wife a Moabite woman named Ruth. I believe it is superfluous to tell how he took her, since on this subject Scripture is clear to all. We, however, will say only one thing. It was by the merit of her faith that Ruth married Boaz. She viewed with indifference her own people, land and race and chose Israel. She did not shun her bereaved and foreign mother-in-law, being led by the desire of this race rather than her own. She renounced the gods of her ancestors and chose the living God, saying these words to her mother-in-law: “Do not ask me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.” [1] Therefore Boaz by the merit of Ruth’s faith took her as his wife, so that through this sanctified union a royal nation might be born. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [2]

[1] Ruth 1:16-17.

[2] PG 56:618-19.

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