Scripture: Ruth 1:20
She replied to them, “Don’t call me Naomi, but call me Mara, for the Almighty has made me very bitter.”
Thought for the Day: As you might guess, the name Mara means bitter. So often in scripture, the names of people were not only a way of understanding the different characters, but the names themselves told a story or at least a portion of the story. In the case of Naomi/Mara, it is true. Ruth is one of those books in the Bible that can be read on multiple levels. Naomi/Mara can be read as a representation of the people of faith, both ancient Israel and the church. In looking specifically at the church, how often has the institution gotten bitter? How often has it allowed its petty squabbles to become the main point, and in doing so, one side of the squabble feels bitter when its opinion is dismissed. And of course, how is this pettiness and bitter attitude viewed by those outside the church? It is not the most inviting or exciting attributes. When we are hurt (as Naomi was), it is ok to have an emotional response. We are emotional creatures. The question becomes a simple one: are we going to name our emotional response and work through it, or are we going to allow the emotion to name us and work through us to impact others negatively? Naomi/Mara seemed pretty focused on the latter.
Prayer: When difficulty happens or disagreement occurs, and it will, I look to your compassionate Spirit, O God. I look to you in hopes that a discern spirit within me will be able to work through my response in such a way that it does not own me or name me. Amen.
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