Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

1In the days of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed to sojourn in the region of the Moabites with his wife and two children.

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3And Elimelech the husband of Naomi died; and she remained with her sons. 4They took wives from among the Moabites, of whom one was called Orpah, and the other Ruth. And they lived there ten years. 5And they both died, namely Mahlon and Chilion, and the woman was left alone, bereaved of her two children and her husband. 6And she arose so that she might journey to her native land, with both her daughters-in-law, from the region of the Moabites. For she had heard that the Lord had provided for his people and had given them food.

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14In response, they lifted up their voice and began to weep again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and then turned back. Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. 15Naomi said to her, “See, your kinswoman returns to her people, and to her gods. Hurry after her.” 16She answered, “Do not be against me, as if I would abandon you and go away; for wherever you will go, I will go, and where you will stay, I also will stay with you. Your people are my people, and your God is my God.

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22Therefore, Naomi went with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, from the land of her sojourn, and returned to Bethlehem, at the time of the first reaping of the barley.

5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob: his hope is in the Lord God himself,

6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all the things that are in them.

7He preserves the truth forever. He executes judgment for those who suffer injury. He provides food for the hungry. The Lord releases those who are bound.

8The Lord enlightens the blind. The Lord sets upright those who have been thrown down. The Lord loves the just.

9The Lord watches over new arrivals. He will support the orphan and the widow. And he will destroy the ways of sinners.

10The Lord shall reign forever: your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. (147A)

34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one. 35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him: 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him: “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.”