Given the rainbow’s distinctive combination of colors, many movements have embraced the symbol to convey their desire to combat racism and promote inclusivity.
However, I would argue that the Catholic Church is the original—and baptized—Rainbow Coalition, precisely because her founder, Jesus Christ, is the creator and Savior of all humanity (John 1:1–3; Luke 2:10–11). Consequently, Jesus has credibility when he commissions his apostles, “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18; emphasis added).
Because of our oneness in Jesus, we can celebrate our ethnic diversity and other God-given differences, because they exemplify the multivalent beauty of God’s creative power, while also reminding us that we share the same Savior in whose image and likeness we are all made (Gen. 1:26–27; see John 17:20–23).
And thus the one, true Church of Jesus of Christ is called “Catholic,” both universal and unifying, calling all to be one in him who both is and provides “the truth” that “sets us free” (John 14:6, 8:31–32).
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God”
Ruth, a young Moabite widow about whom we hear in today’s First Reading, understood the creative unity God intended for all the nations. And so she tells Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, that she will go “wherever you go” and “wherever you lodge I will lodge” (Ruth 1:16). Naomi welcomes Ruth, as she had first welcomed her in permitting one of her sons to marry the young Moabitess (Ruth 1:3–4). While the Israelites were God’s chosen people, Naomi understood they were to be a unifying “light to the nations” (Isa. 49:6; see Gen. 22:18).
A couple of weeks ago on August 3 (see Num. 12:1–13), we saw how Miriam learned that lesson the hard way. God punished her for opposing the interracial marriage of her brother Moses, who had the audacity to venture outside the Israelite clan and wed Zipporah (Exod. 2:21), an African woman of Cushite heritage (Num. 12:1).
Today, we hear of Ruth, who would go on to marry Boaz (Ruth 2—4). He himself the son of an Israelite father (Salmon) and a Canaanite mother, Rahab the harlot (Matt. 1:5), who had helped Israel defeat the king of Jericho (see Jos. 2:2ff.).
One in Jesus Christ
In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). Yes, but who, we might persist, is our neighbor? Elsewhere, Jesus affirms that everyone is our neighbor, including the Samaritans, a despised group of heretical “half-breeds,” and yet one of whom outshines the righteousness of an Israelite priest and Levite in perhaps the most famous parable of Jesus (Luke 10:25–37).
Yes, the kingdom of God is for everyone, a cross-cultural reality that is at the heart of Gratia Vobis Ministries. Indeed, because we all have the same creator, we cannot claim to love God if we do not also love our neighbor. In today’s Gospel regarding “the greatest commandment,” Jesus proclaims that truth to a Pharisee scholar, and—by extension—to all of us:
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37–40)
Our Eternal Father loves to use his crayons in his box of many colors. His children are like that rest of his creation, colorful and beautiful in HIS EYES. I find it hard that people do not see this and use and abuse the different tones and today use and abuse the rainbow given to Noah’s people by GOD. why do they not see the devil behind all this evilness, hate and division push mankind to rot and ruin. yet many go on the path happily and foolishly. do they not see the lies and emptiness of the devil’s words ?? I know we are all GOD’S Children but we live on earth in occupied land. and we have free will to go and do as we wish. I know that mankind are fools when they use their free will to do bad things than wonder why GOD did this to them when they have done it themselves or allow it to be done. accessories in a way. I pray that eyes,hearts,souls, minds and ears are open to reality. and they stop living in lala land were they believe in any the lies of the devil and start developing character and spiritual courage and strength for that will defeat the devil and may force than off the easy road onto one hard and narrow but if they take up the cross each one of us is given and like Simon help others carry their, the road will lead HOME and not some pit were they see themselves as fools and suffer forever.
Agreed