Mark 2: 23 Another time, on a Sabbath day as JESUS and HIS disciples were walking through the fields, the disciples were breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain. Some of the Jewish religious leaders said to JESUS, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against our law to work by harvesting gain on the Sabbath.”
Ruth 2:2-9 One day Ruth said to Naomi, “Perhaps I can go out into the fields of some kind man to glean the free grain behind his reapers.”… Boaz arrived from the city while she was there. After exchanging greetings with the reapers he said to his foreman, “Hey, who’s that girl over there?” And the foreman replied, “It’s that girl from the land of Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked me this morning if she could pick up the grains dropped by the reapers, and she has been at it ever since except for a few minutes’ rest over there in the shade." Boaz went over and talked to her. “Listen, my child,” he said to her. “Stay right here with us to glean; don’t think of going to any other fields. Stay right behind my women workers; I have warned the young men not to bother you; when you are thirsty, go and help yourself to the water. [Living Bible Translation]
Summary
Gleaning was quite common during Biblical times. After a field had been harvested, others were allowed to collect the leftover crops to eat. Today some might considered it part of the Biblical “welfare system” or “Social Security” system. It was a way to provide for those who could not provide for themselves or to help someone “make ends meet.” Ruth and Naomi were both widowed and poor. Their husbands were dead and Naomi had just returned to Bethlehem. And, Ruth a Moabite. In other words, she wasn’t from Bethlehem, she probably didn’t look or dress like “everyone else,” and she wasn’t even Jewish! She was “a foreigner.” Like the foreman, many people probably didn’t even know her name or care to know it. Ruth was just “that girl from Moab who came back with Naomi.”
However, Boaz’ attitude toward both Ruth and Naomi was gracious, polite, supportive and protective. Boaz referred to Ruth as “my child,” letting her know that “she was family.” He made sure Ruth was protected and tried to make “her situation” as comfortable as possible. Boaz went the “extra mile.” The scriptures state that at lunchtime, Boaz invited Ruth to come eat with him, sharing what he had with her--(Verse 14). He not only gave her food, he gave her more than she could eat. Later when she returned to work, Boaz told his men to let Ruth glean right beside them and told them to snap off a few heads of barley and drop them on purpose so Ruth would be assured of having enough for herself and Naomi--(Verse 18). In other words, Boaz not only allowed Ruth to eat fresh food but wanted to try to give Naomi and Ruth a fresh start.
JESUS’ and the disciples’ gleaning experience is in stark contrast to Ruth’s. The disciples were also eating fresh in a field. They were Jewish, just like the religious leaders they encountered. JESUS was preaching to large crowds and teaching, so HE was no stranger. Although there is no evidence that religious leaders even owned the field, there is no generosity, no politeness, no concern or love. They just wanted JESUS and HIS disciples to disappear.
Eating Fresh
There was a time when almost every house in a neighborhood had a garden. People who grew up on farms and who later moved to cities, wanted to have “fresh” greens, “good tasting” tomatoes, “ripe” apples or peaches, so they just planted their own in a little garden in a back yard. If they didn’t plant their own garden, there was a local place where they could get “fresh” produce—a local market that had the inside track to a local farmer or to some other “fresh” source. Eating fresh was pretty common.
Today, foods are shipped from all over the world. Some supermarkets have signs identifying the location where the food was grown. Some stores do not. Sometimes the packaging will identify whether food is “home grown” or not. Some fruits are shipped from a far location with wax on them so the fruit will appear fresh. Sometimes people get so used to the glossiness of the fruit, they don’t realize the fruit is not as fresh. Although fresh fruit right off a tree tends may not be “as pretty,” but it tends to be better for you.
Sometimes there is a date stamp on food. Sometimes the stamp will be “sell by,” indicating the date the store should stop advertising and marketing the product. Sometimes there is a “used by” date on the product, can or package. Sometimes there is a “best used by” date on a product or package. When shopping, it pays to look at the stamps, if there is one on the product. For example, juice, milk, eggs, can goods, frozen goods, bread and other foods often bear stamps. It pays to read carefully and to buy fresh, whenever possible.
Most dietitians agree that eating whole foods and fresh foods is healthier than eating processed foods (e.g. canned foods, processed foods or foods that contain chemicals.) Whole foods generally contain more nutrients, which in turn, helps our immune systems and helps us fight disease. Numerous studies have linked eating fresh fruits and vegetables with lower risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease and reduced risks for Type 2 diabetes. Why not eat fresh and try to have the best health possible for you and your family!
A great source of fresh fruits and vegetables is your local farmer’s market—food grown in your own state. If you haven’t visited a farmer’s market, why not give it a try. Support your local economy and your own health!
Gleaning Love
We have the opportunity to interact with many people---on the job, in our churches, in our neighborhoods, in our homes. Each interaction is a chance to let someone else “into our field.” Such interactions can be generous, welcoming, inviting, gracious and caring. We can take the extra time to listen, be concerned, help and even love. As a result, others can come away being loved, having gleaned love and concern “in our field.”
Or, like some of the religious leaders during JESUS’ time, we can be hostile, indifferent, inflexible and “just plain difficult.” We can make others feel “invisible” or make them feel at home. We can act as if “we wish they would just disappear,” or we can be inviting. We can send others away “empty handed,” without ever knowing the love of GOD, which we can extend, or we can spread morsels of GOD’s love everywhere for others “to glean.”
Each day is a day to eat fresh and start fresh—readying our field, and acting as GOD’s messengers throughout the world.
Let us all strive to be generous, kind, gracious and loving. And, BE BLESSED!
