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If you’ve ever lived in a foreign country, been deeply saddened by the death of a loved one, or if hardships have brought you to a point of hopelessness and anger at God, you’ll probably appreciate the book of Ruth.
The book of Ruth is a time-out from the march of major events in the history of Israel. In Ruth no kings rise or fall, no battles are fought, no temple is built. The story involves ordinary people in ordinary situations. Yet Israel’s history and the book of Ruth are not disconnected. In fact, they are tied together in several ways. Furthermore,the common human quality of the experiences makes the story easy for all of us to relate to, no matter what our own background and circumstances may be.
Participants are encouraged to read the text and material will be provided (audio recordings, readings and questions) to help reflect on its meaning and significance.
Week 1 - Introducing the Book of Ruth
In this session we look at some preliminary questions around the Book of Ruth: questions concerning the authorship and date of the work and the purpose of the writing. Some of the main themes of the book are introduced, in particular the ideal lifestyle of hesed – fidelity – and a key theological notion of the book: the universal love of the Lord God for all peoples.
Week 2 – Naomi Returns to Bethlehem
The first chapter recounts, in short order, the death of Naomi’s husband, the marriage of her sons to Moabite women, the sons’ death ten years later, and Naomi’s decision to return to Bethlehem. One daughter-in-law, Orpah, returns to her Moabite family. The other, Ruth, declares allegiance to Naomi and to the God of Israel and returns with Naomi. Despite Ruth’s company, Naomi is embittered at her many losses.
Week 3 – Ruth Finds Favour with Boaz
In the second chapter, Ruth gleans in the field of Naomi’s kinsman, Boaz, and acquires enough grain to sustain Naomi and herself for some time.
Week 4 - Ruth Proposes Marriage to Boaz
In the third chapter, Naomi devises a plan for Ruth’s future security: Ruth will pay a night-time visit to the threshing floor where Boaz has been winnowing the barley harvest and will thereby obtain a promise of marriage.
Week 5 – Widow Naomi Has a Baby
The plan is successful and culminates, in chapter four, in the marriage of Ruth and Boaz and the birth of their child, Obed. The book ends with a genealogy which traces the line of Obed back to Perez, the child of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38), and forward to King David.
Introductory Reading
Read the Book of Ruth – four chapters (barely 85 verses)seven pages at most!
Bible Project, The Book of Ruth Summary: A Complete Animated Overview - Book of Ruth Summary |Watch an Overview Video (bibleproject.com)
Phyllis Trible, “Ruth: Bible.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 20 March 2009. Jewish Women’s Archive.
William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, “Ruth” in Old Testament Survey (Eerdmans, Cambridge, 1996)pp.520-525.
For those who wish to read further
Tamar Meir. “Ruth: Midrash & Aggadah.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 20 March 2009. Jewish Women’s Archive.
Brian Purfield, The Book of Ruth – Study Guide, Notes for Private Use. London Jesuit Centre, July 2024. For session 1, see pp.1-7.
Questions for Reflection
1. Why did you choose to sign up for this course on the Book of Ruth?
2. What do you hope to gain from your study of reflection on the Book of Ruth?
3. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was & why you found it that way.
Introductory Reading
Read Chapter 1 of the Book of Ruth
Bible Hub, Ruth Chapter 1 Summary Ruth 1 Chapter Summary (biblehub.com)
For those who wish to read further:
Brian Purfield, Notes from “Liturgical Setting of Ruth” in Pádraig Ó Tuama &Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 1-12.
Brian Purfield, The Book of Ruth –Study Guide, Notes for Private Use. London Jesuit Centre, July 2024. For session 2, see pp.8-25 (The Study guide was uploaded in the first week's materials)
Questions for Reflection
1. What family member do you especially admire for his or her loyalty to others?
2. How has commitment to another person taken you on a journey into the unknown?
3. How would you characterise Naomi’s relationship with God (cf. 1:6, 8, 20, 21)?
4. In v.21 Naomi says, “The Lord has brought me back empty.” Is Naomi completely empty?
5. At the end of chapter 1, what are the problems to be solved & the questions to be answered in this story?
6. If Naomi lived in your parish, would you know about her situation? What kind of support would she receive?
7. When you feel disappointed or angry with God, do you express your feelings to God honestly? Is this dangerous to do? Healthy? Why?
Introductory Reading
Read Chapter 2 of the Book of Ruth
Bible Hub, Ruth Chapter 2 Summary Ruth2 Chapter Summary (biblehub.com)
For those who wish to read further
Brian Purfield, Notes from “The Second Act of the Book of Ruth” in Pádraig Ó Tuama & Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 36-45
Brian Purfield, Notes from “Counter-Narratives” in Pádraig Ó Tuama & Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 46-57
Brian Purfield, The Book of Ruth –Study Guide, Notes for Private Use. London Jesuit Centre, July 2024. For session 3, see pp.25-37 & 59-63 (Please find the Study Guide in Week 1)
Questions for Reflection
1. Describe a coincidence that has had a lasting impact on your life.
2. Think of times when you have been a stranger –marrying into a family, moving to a different city/country, starting a new job. Which of these experiences was the most difficult? What made it difficult? Who helped you get adjusted & accepted?
3. What sort of initial impression does Boaz make in2:4?
4. Ruth repeatedly speaks of finding favour (2:2, 10,13). What does this say about her situation?
5. How is Naomi different at the end of chapter 2 from how she is in chapter1? Who & what have caused the change?
6. Where can God’s action be glimpsed in the events of this chapter?
7. When have you realised that God was working in a hidden way through circumstances in your life? Can you detect God’s activity beneath the events of your life?
Introductory Reading
Read Chapter 3 of the Book of Ruth
Bible Hub, Ruth Chapter 3 Summary Ruth 3 ChapterSummary (biblehub.com)
For those who wish to read further
Brian Purfield, Notes from “The Third Act of the Book of Ruth” in Pádraig Ó Tuama & Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 58-67
Brian Purfield, Notes from “Compassion and the Law” in Pádraig Ó Tuama &Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 68-79
Brian Purfield, The Book of Ruth –Study Guide, Notes for Private Use. London Jesuit Centre, July 2024. For session 4, see pp.37-47. (Please find the Study Guide in Week 1)
Questions for Reflection
1. Ruth tells Naomi she will follow her instructions (3:5). But compare 3:4 & 3:9. Does Ruth go beyond Naomi’s instructions? What might be the significance of this?
2. After reading the dialogue between Naomi & Ruth in the first three chapters, how would you describe the relationship between the two women?
3. Drawing on everything in the story so far, what picture of Ruth would you paint? In what ways is she a good example for other people?
4. What risks is Ruth taking by following Naomi’s plan? When have you taken a risk for something you really wanted? What did you learn?
5. Ruth trusts Naomi. Naomi trusts Boaz. How can you tell when a person is trustworthy?
Introductory Reading
Read Chapter 4 of the Book of Ruth
Bible Hub, Ruth Chapter 4 Summary Ruth 4 Chapter Summary(biblehub.com)
Richard J. Clifford, “The Book of Ruth reminds us to take seriously the lives of ordinary people”, America Magazine (February 08, 2021)
For those who wish to read further
Prof. Rabbi Pamela Barmash, Book of Ruth: Achieving Justice through Narrative www.thetorah.com/article/book-of-ruth-achieving-justice-through-narrative 7 Jun 2016
Brian Purfield, Notes from “The Fourth Act of the Book of Ruth” in Pádraig Ó Tuama & Glenn Jordan, Borders and Belonging. The Book of Ruth: A Story for our Times, Canterbury Press, London 2021, pp. 80-89
Brian Purfield, The Book of Ruth –Study Guide, Notes for Private Use. London Jesuit Centre, July 2024. For session 5, see pp.48-56. (Please find the Study Guide in Week 1)
Questions for Reflection
1. When have you undertaken a special responsibility to care for a member of your family?
2. What does4:15-16 suggest about the relationship between Naomi & Ruth as the story ends?
3. What does this reading tell us about what God is like?
4. How is God calling you to imitate Ruth or Boaz?
5. When have you seen the impact a small act of kindness can make?
6. What will you take away with you from this short course on the Book of Ruth?
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide us with feedback on your experience with our course. Please complete an evaluation form here:
Evaluation Form - The Book of Ruth · ChurchSuite Forms
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to this request.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
