A rainbow is a universally cheerful scene. That beautiful , colorful, arc in the sky after a rainstorm (sometimes even during) offers new vision, a new start. Plants and birds rejoice under its splendor. I’m not even sure the Leprechauns’ idea of a Pot of Gold at a rainbow’s end is entirely wrong. It is a myth, of course. But that’s what a myth is; an imagined, or stylized description, or reproduction of a reality. The rainbow reigns as the promise of better.
The Walk To Emmaus, a carefully planed spiritual pilgrimage, has the Rainbow in its symbolism and its music. It attracts hope, and endurance. Hasn’t the Rainbow been around since time began? It is symbolic of hope. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) is a Masonic youth service organization that teaches leadership training through community service. Young women learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects.
My church (and denomination) uses the rainbow flames to represent its embrace of the Holy Spirit for all people, including LGBTQ+ . My congregation is a Reconciling Congregation and one mission effort is participating in Lost’N’Found. The organization offers home and help (including food, clothing and shelter) to outcast, disinherited children, shunned by their own family. It is horrifying to discover the multitudes of young children and youth who are put out of their homes simply because their parents object to their gender orientation. Lost N Found helps provide food, shelter, clothing, and safety for these young people. It is what Jesus did, and would do. (Lost N Found https://www.lnfy.org/. )
Think of old Noah—- in the midst of a world filled with hate and evil. He was trying to follow God’s command to save the world; he met enormous obstacles, hatred, and scorn—on top of the impossible assignment from God. In a magnificent manner, Noah fulfilled God’s command; saved his family, the living creatures, and himself. After forty days among unthinkable duress, as the flood melted everyone, flaws and all, disembarked successfully, God looked on Noah’s faithfulness and made the most beautiful Covenant signet of all time—The Rainbow.
After the flood receded, God set the rainbow as a promise, never to destroy the earth by water again. It was a promise, that no matter the failings of humanity, God still wants to give us another chance. Psalm 107 is a litany of God’s offer of redemption and good, in the face of humanity’s repeated downfalls. The Psalmist never mentions the Rainbow—-yet its promise reverberates through all 43 verses. The mercies of God never fail. As Andre Crouch sang, Great is Thy Faithfulness Oh God my Father, morning by morning, new mercies I see!
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023
A very meaningful Post!
Toni
What a great sermon. Jesus showed love to all. Never have I seen where He said I like what you are doing keep it up. That I believe is the job of the Holy Spirit to fix. Not ours.