Our Rainbow Parish

thought-for-sundayFrom the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters CP

Sunday 26th June 2016

 

Rainbow Parish 2

Once upon a time, all the colours in the world started to quarrel; each claimed that she was the best, the most important, the most useful, the favourite…  

Green said: “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, and leaves —without me all the animals would die. Look out over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.” 

Blue interrupted: “You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is water that is the basis of life and the clouds draw this up from the blue sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace you would all be nothing but busybodies.”

Yellow chuckled: “You’re all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”

Orange started next to blow her own trumpet: “I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the inner needs of human life. I carry all the most important vitamins. Think of carrots and pumpkins, oranges, mangoes and papaws”.

Purple rose to her full height. She was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the colour of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs and bishops have always chosen me for I am a sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me -they listen and obey.”
 
And so the colours went on boasting, each convinced that they were the best. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of brilliant white lighting; thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colours crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

Then Rain spoke: “You foolish colours, fighting among yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Do you not know that the Creator made you all? Each for a special purpose, unique and different.  The Creator loves you all. Join hands with one another and come with me. The Creator will stretch you across the sky in a great bow of colour, as a reminder of all this and a sign of hope for tomorrow.”

 

We are blessed and enriched in the many nationalities that make up our parish. There can’t be a beautiful rainbow at all until all the colours blend together and work together in glorious harmony. And so it is in every family, community and parish.