Call Me Mara
February 14, 2024
Call me Mara! These are the words uttered by a bitter and broken woman. And, if these words are unfamiliar, I direct your attention to the book of Ruth and allow me to introduce you to Naomi. Naomi is Ruth’s mother-in-law, and because we are so familiar with Ruth’s story, we sometimes forget that Naomi has her own story to tell. As a faithful wife and mother, Naomi, along with her two sons, follows her husband, Elimelech, the Ephrathite, to the land of Moab. It is in Moab that Naomi acquires two daughters-in-law, Oprah and Ruth. And it is in Moab that Naomi loses her husband and sons. Naomi left Bethlehem because of a famine only to trade it for a famine of another sort in Moab, the famine of loss that occurs when death strikes suddenly and unexpectedly. You can almost hear the grief-stricken Naomi as she pleads with Ruth and Oprah to return to their mother’s houses as she makes preparations to return home saying, “May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with me” (1:8). You can sense the enormous pain of her loss as she pleads “turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?”(1:11) Naomi’s unresponsiveness to Ruth’s vow of devotion in 1:16-17 speaks to the level of her own grief and sense of loss. Can you hear her sorrow as she tells the women of Bethlehem, “Call me Mara, for the Almighty, has dealt bitterly with me” (1:20). These agonizing words suggest the anger and grief of a woman seeking to make sense of the events of her life and the God who allowed it to happen. You can almost hear her silent and unvoiced question to God. Lord, are you still there, and if you’re still there, do you still care?
All of us, at some point in time, will find ourselves like Naomi, seeking answers in the midst of loss, whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the imagined loss of a future that once seemed full of hope. Amidst her personal anguish, she becomes a source of encouragement for her daughter-in-law, who, like her, must navigate the aftermath of her husband’s passing. Naomi’s wisdom and support pave the path for Ruth, enabling her not only to encounter but also to wed Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer and the great-grandfather of King David. Although Naomi has endured the loss of significant male figures in her life, God blesses her with loyal and devoted daughters-in-law who regard her as family and offer unwavering love. Ruth says, “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (1:16) What encouragement and comfort these words must have sounded to the bereaved Naomi. These words suggest that in the midst of our own hurt and pain, we must learn to find solace in each other. When life’s uncertainties lurk at our doors, crouching like in the story of Cain and Abel, we must heed the call for assistance when our sisters’ cries echo with the plea, “Call me Mara!” It’s a call for us to uplift and bolster each other not only in times of profound sorrow but also during moments of jubilation and triumph.
As I read the story of Ruth, I believe that God felt the anguish of Naomi’s heart just as God feels the anguish of the hearts of all of God’s children when the toils and issues of life are at their heights, threatening to overwhelm and consume us. For when Ruth gives birth to a son, the women say to Naomi (not Ruth!), “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you (emphasis mine) without next of kin; and may his name be renown in Israel.”(4:14) Yes, we could say that Ruth has been written out of the story and that she is just a foil to the larger story of the lineage of King David (and she is!). But I did say that this is Naomi’s story, too. As the women proclaim, “A son has been born to Naomi” (4:17), I can only imagine Naomi’s joy as she holds her grandson in her arms. I can envision the moment when she exchanges her years of mourning, her years of tears and bitterness, for tears of happiness and thanksgiving. And, as we imagine Naomi’s rebirth and restoration, we too can take part in the celebration, reflecting on the wonderful and marvelous ways in which God’s grace and mercy restore each of us day by day.