Seeing God's Kingdom in Ordinary People

The story of Ruth happens during the period of time covered by the book of Judges. Her story shows ordinary people acting in accordance with the Law and caring for the people around them even when there is nothing in it for them. And we can find that the same is expected of us. In the gospel reading, we learn that Jesus considers as family those who do the will of God (and, by corollary, not those who just hear it). In this way, God achieves God's purposes through people rather than by way of "zoomy" miracles.