Rainbows

 

1 Lent                     Church of the Redeemer            The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling

            I thought I might focus on the beginning of our salvation story with the book of Genesis. Not only is it a popular story for all ages but it is vivid in its imagery. It tells the story of our creation, our humanity, and our relationship with God from many perspectives. Top down, we hear about the galaxies, the sun, the moon, and the planets in their courses. Bottom up, we hear how we are formed from dust, and during Lent we are reminded that it is to dust that we shall return.

            There is much talk about the chaos in our world today. Our women’s Bible study group is currently reflecting upon the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation, and in it, we hear echoes of the Genesis story. On these “throwback Thursday mornings” we read about the tree of life in Revelation, which mirrors the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Old and new prophets encourage their followers to change their behavior before it’s too late. Repent and return to the Lord is a recurring refrain.

Throughout our scripture stories we hear that the world was created by God and yet human beings are destroying it daily. Prophets point to changes in the climate, the violence of wars and crime, plagues and diseases, and the deterioration of organized religion. And yet God promised that, despite our sinful behavior and guilt, God would not destroy God’s creation. God promised us a new beginning and gave us a sign for all future generations, the rainbow in Genesis. Indeed, the author of Revelation writes about a new heaven and a new earth.

            Have you ever heard that phrase, “just wait until your father gets home”? Perhaps not as prevalent today in child-rearing practices, that threat was more common in the days of June and Ward Cleaver. The good wife at home, wearing heels and an apron, supervised their children’s behavior throughout the day, while preparing the perfect dinner and a martini for her hard-working husband. Upon his arrival home from his hard day at the office, he would be greeted with his pipe, his slippers, and the daily paper. If the children ever got “out of hand” before that time, Momma would utter those words, “Just wait until your father gets home.”

            Now what Daddy did when he arrived home may have varied with the person. Unlike today, “time-outs” of silence and reflection upon sinful behavior was not the “rigueur du jour.” Pauses for peace didn’t occur. No, more likely, Daddy may have pulled off his belt for some behavior modification. Banishment to one’s room with no supper may have been a kinder and gentler response. Or a little washing out of the mouth with some soap reminded children about their speech. Often quoting from the Bible, the parents thought that if they spared the rod they would spoil their child. And who would want that? After all, a spoiled child is like spilt milk.

            Some of us have commented during our Bible study of the book of Revelation, how relevant the imagery and the warnings in the Bible seem for us today. St. John’s visions in Revelation are vivid; the end-times will include warnings of impending judgment. There will be earthquakes, fires, and floods. Pestilence and plagues. Unceasing wars and terrorists. Rogue dictators and emperors. “Who can stand during these times of great tribulation?” St. John wrote to the new fledgling churches in Asia Minor.

            Now, while there are many flood stories that are common in religious traditions of all faiths, the Jewish flood story in the book of Genesis was written notably by three, if not more, authors. And it was written during much of the time that the Israelites were in exile in and around the 6th century. They had been routinely invaded by countries all around them; Egypt, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Greece, and Rome. Not unlike today in the middle east, they were in the crossroads of other countries for trade and power, and therefore they often were in the cross hairs of their neighbors.

            For the Jews who fled to Egypt, the Jews who had been exiled to Babylon, and the Jews who had remained in their own country, they experienced great chaos during this time in their lives. They underwent the demise of their government; and their temple and religious establishments were destroyed.They abandoned their cultures and traditions while living in foreign lands, and their faith in God was severely tested. Perhaps these realities are equally true today for many people throughout our world.

It was a time for the Jews of great sadness and loss. Prophets had warned them that their great Daddy, the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of all people, was coming to them in Judgment, but they had ignored their warnings. They had not changed their behaviors. And, when Daddy came home to them in Jerusalem and in their country of Israel, it was painful.

            The story of Genesis offered the Jews some comfort and hope. And the rainbow was the sign of God’s promise for all people. God promises us life, not death; and God, our Creator, will recreate us as often as it takes. Here is my sign for you for all ages, a bow in the clouds that spans all nations and all generations. This rainbow is a sign that includes all colors, covenants, and countries. My bow reminds you of my power that is far greater than yours, much higher than the mountains, and much deeper than the caverns of the earth.

Indeed the gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus is our rainbow; and the time of our judgment was fulfilled in Him. For Christians, the kingdom of God had arrived, and was revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. “Who is this?” the disciples had asked themselves, that even the winds and the waves obey Him?

            A friend recently sent me a story about monks. “A young monk arrives at the monastery and is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old canons and laws of the church by hand. He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying from copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the new monk goes to the old Abbot to question this, pointing out that if someone made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up! In fact, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies.”

“The head monk, says, "We have been copying

from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son." He goes down into the dark caves underneath the monastery where the original manuscripts are held as archives, in a locked vault that hasn't been opened for hundreds of years. Hours go by and nobody sees the old Abbot.”

“So, the young monk gets worried and goes down to look for him. He sees him banging his head against the wall and wailing.

"We missed the R! We missed the R! We missed the bloody R!"

 

His forehead is all bloody and bruised and he is crying uncontrollably. The young monk asks the old Abbot, "What's wrong, father?" With a choking voice, the old Abbot replies, "The word was CELEBRATE!” (Not Celibate)

Our own salvation story has not omitted the “R’s” in the original manuscripts. While judgment and punishment was part of the retribution when Daddy came home, Christians will claim that sin and death were destroyed on the cross. In Jesus, we are promised many “R’s”: rebirth and the renewal of our relationships. We are restored to health and wholeness. We are reconciled to God, promised a resurrected life, and the recreation of a garden where there is eternal rest, and the Tree of Life still stands.

            Lent is the 40 days of wilderness when we join Jesus in resisting the temptations that tear us down. Repent and return to the Lord, St. John reminded the churches in Asia Minor. “Repent, and believe in the good news,” Jesus said.

Today, there is a rainbow in the clouds even for us. And the good news of St. Mark is that when Daddy comes home, we will know that our sins are forgiven; we will know God’s gracious love, unmerited and undeserved. This is God’s revelation for us to remember throughout our Lenten journey!

            People of the Redeemer, remember the “R’s”.

Genesis 9:8-17        Mark 1:9-15