August 26, 2003.

Saturday of the 20th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of Ruth.

Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz, of the clan of her husband, Ilimaak.

Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,

Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field of anyone who will allow me that favor.

Naomi said to her, go, my daughter, and she went.

The field she entered to glean after the harvesters happened to be the section belonging to Boaz,

of the clan of Elimelech.

Boaz said to Ruth,

Listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in anyone else's field.

You are not to leave here.

Stay here with my women's servants.

Watch to see which field is to be harvested and follow them. I have commanded

the young men to do you no harm. When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels

the young men have filled. Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,

Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?

Boaz answered her,

I have had a complete account of what you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband's death.

You have left your father and your mother in the land of your birth and have

come to a people whom you did not know previously. Boas took Ruth. When they came together as

man and wife, the Lord enabled her to conceive and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed is the Lord who has not failed to provide you today with an heir.

...