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As this "PRIDE Sunday" approached, I knew the general idea I wanted to impart through my sermon, but I needed a good illustration of how something destructive can be turned around to represent something positive and affirming. In terms of illustrative material, I got a bit more than I had bargained for with the possibility of a "group" from Fred Phelps church being here to picket us this morning and our being able to respond in a positive, proactive manner. But that's O.K. It does help make my point.
In our Scripture reading this morning from the Old Testament book of Genesis, we heard a portion of the familiar story of Noah and the ark. Everybody pretty much knows the deal with Noah and the ark and all the animals and the great flood. There are plenty of depictions of Noah's ark with giraffes and monkeys and elephants and unicorns hanging out ofthe windows as a great bearded Noah stands on deck smiling. You can find lots of those in children's books and art stores. But that's not the part of the story we're looking at today.
When today's reading begins, the rain has ended and the waters have receded; Noah, his family and all the animals have "de-arked" and Noah has built an altar in reverence to God. Then God makes the first covenant that Scripture records - the first binding-, lasting promise for all people - the promise that never again will the earth be destroyed by flood. As a visible sign of that everlasting, inclusive covenant, God says, whenever a rainbow appears in the sky after a rain, it is to remind us of that promise: a promise of peace and of safety from destruction.
In the original language of this Scripture, the word that is translated as "rainbow" was actually closer to our word "bow" like a "bow and arrow." In the thinking of some ancient people, the rain "bow" - that arch of color in the sky - was the instrument with which God shot arrows: lightening bolts. The symbolism of this covenant sign, then, was that God was putting the "weapon" of destruction on the table so that all can see it and be at ease. The rain clouds and the rainbow were never again to be regarded as a threat of judgement or destruction but rather as an unchanging reminder of God's mercy and grace.
There are other references in Scripture to the rainbow as a representation of God's glory. In the book of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, the prophet has a vision of God and chapter 1, verse 28 of that passage says, "Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around God." In the book of Revelation, in chapters 4 and 10, the throne of God in heaven is said to be encircled by a rainbow!
Today, there will be rainbows everywhere at PrideFest. The gay/lesbian/ bisexual/ transgendered and allied communities use the rainbow flag as a symbol of diversity and pnde. When our church marches down Grand Ave. with our banners and our "Skywalkers" an our "human float," people will most likely see our use of the rainbow, also, as "a gay thing."
But I want us to go there knowing something different. In this church, we have reclaimed the rainbow first and foremost as a symbol of God's covenant relationship with humanity. Before anything else, the rainbow should be, for us, a symbol of God's mercy and God's grace and God's glory! It's colors represent the broad areas of our ministry, and it is ministry we will be carrying to the people at Pride today!
Ancient people used to believe that a rainbow in the sky was a symbol of judgement and destruction. A lot of people these days - especially the people we will encounter today - see the Bible and the Cross and the name "Christian," also, as symbols of judgement and destruction. We are here to reclaim a better understanding about these symbols and to help others to understand them as "Good News."
We must reclaim the rainbow in order to help put this community "at ease" with the idea of God in their lives! Our task is to march down the street today carrying symbols of God's mercy and grace and glory! We must meet people today with eyes and hands and words that are filled with love! Today, church, as a human rainbow, WE must be God's covenant sign to the people we meet! Through us, may the notion of God's judgement and destruction be put "at ease" and may a new understanding take its place...just as a new understanding came to pass in the days of Noah!
A rainbow forms after a rain because of the reflection of sunlight on water in the sky. Our motto in this church is, "From the Light of the World comes a Rainbow of Possibilities!" Scripture promises, in the Gospel of John, that when we give ourselves to Christ, "streams of living water will flow from within" us. So, today, all those people who have seen Jesus Christ as a symbol of judgement and destruction, will have the chance to see that Great Light reflected in us, bringing forth a rainbow of loving possibilities!
Church...no matter what happens, we must let that precious Light shine on...through us: God's living rainbow for the world! Amen.
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