Connection between Megilat Ruth and Shavuot
The Me'am Loez lists twenty reasons why Megillat Ruth is read on Shavuot. Below are some of them. Which reason do you like best and why?
1) The story of Ruth takes place at the barley harvest time (תחילת קציר שעורים) and on Shavuot we read about the harvest.
2) To teach us that one does not become successful in learning Torah unless they experience pain and poverty. This is just like Ruth who underwent this when becoming a Jew.
3) To teach how great Torah is that a non-Jew (Ruth) left her idols to become a Jews and follow the Torah.
4) To learn to treat converts with respect like Boaz did to Ruth. Much of our Torah comes from Rabbi Akiva who descended from converts.
5) To show us that although women are not obligated to study Torah like men, they too can achieve greatness like Ruth who became "the mother" of royalty.
6) To inspire us to give "presents" to the poor as the Torah requires us to do. It is through this mitzvah of צדקה which Boaz did that we will merit משיח.
7) Another reason that is not mentioned in Me'am Loez but is mentioned elsewhere is because מגילת רות is the story of Dovid Hamelech who died on Shavuot.