The congregation with which I usually worship knows itself as a “Reconciling Church” because we accept the LGBTQ members–and other marginalized persons–more openly than other denominational groups. Scriptures read today for this First Sunday within Lent have to do with the relationship of God with The People, and God’s persistent attempts to make a holy presence known.
GENESIS 9:8-17 continues the story of Noah’s Ark, when the flood waters have receded and the doors are blessedly open for the chosen animals inside. Here is the covenant of YHWH, that the waters will never again flood Creation; and here is the inverted bow of the Warrior, presented to all humanity and fauna, which reminds Creator and Creatures with its sign. As the People of Israel moved from crisis to crisis, they were reminded of the holy presence that embraces Red & Yellow, Black & White, all precious in God’s sight.
I PETER 3:18-22 can be a challenge. It’s here to remind us that our relationship with God is intensified through the person of Jesus. The passage, according to scholars, was written to Christians in Asia Minor (the community of John of Revelation?) who were undergoing their own flood of persecution. It’s included in Scripture because it may speak to ALL who “suffer”, to give these pains a theological basis. Jesus “was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” So then we in chaos of various kinds are to consider the Old Selves dead and the New Selves alive.
The Gospel is a quick three paragraphs by MARK, 1:9-15, which rushes us through the Baptism, Temptations and early ministry of Jesus. Jesus picks up the mantle of his imprisoned cousin, John the Baptizer, to announce throughout Galilee that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” God continues to chase us down, to pursue us with the vigor of a swooping dove, even to the barren parts of our lives where the wild things are.
And so the Rainbow prevails, in flags, in lanyards, and especially in a new awareness of how special we are as opposed to the rest of Creation. Are “we” really special, or is it that most of Creation has yet to discover/be discovered by an awareness of the breadth of God’s Love? Our ministry, our mission, is to keep pointing to the rainbow in the clouds.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
Join us every Tuesday as we consider the texts to be presented during the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com
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