"Dad, do you know what happens during a solar eclipse?" "No Sun."
How does the man on the moon get a haircut? Eclipse it.
What do you need to do to have an eclipse party? Planet.
Now that I'm through with the bad puns, let's talk about what really happened on August 21. There was a facebook meme circulating prior to the "Great American Eclipse" that said "If people prepared for the second coming of Christ as much as they prepared for the solar eclipse, the world would be a far better place." It's a good sentiment that is true and worthy of consideration. I for one began planning to view the eclipse last October. The last time I saw one was in 1978 and it was only a partial (I think around 50-60% from my location in Aurora Illinois), and I saw it illegally as a friend of mine and I played hooky from school so we could view it. As the stuff that comprises legends and lore throughout history, a solar eclipse is indeed one of the most amazing celestial events we could ever witness, and it certainly did not disappoint. And while I did indeed spend a great deal of time preparing for the day, I would also say that I am more than prepared for Christ's return, which is looking more and more imminent the way the world is collapsing around us. More on that in a bit.
For me, I truly wondered if, despite that August is traditionally the hottest and driest (and thus clearest) month of the year, if we'd even see it as that would be the day of total cloud cover. While there were parts of Nebraska that were indeed covered, the clouds we had were on the horizon around us only, as if a large window had opened directly over our viewing location in rural northeast Lincoln County, up on a ridge not far from the center of the path of totality. The headline image says it all: I photographed closeups of the sun throughout the entire eclipse sequence, and the most remarkable thing is that when the moon finally exited from in front of the sun, the clouds rolled in and obscured the sky!
The other amazing part of the eclipse, besides the totality phase itself, was that our daughter turned just before totality, as the ground got darker and darker, and shouted "look!" We all turned to see a mass of blackness to the northwest, and could tell it was coming right at us. It was the moon's shadow we saw, racing toward us at 1100 miles per hour. Almost as soon as we saw it, it was upon us, and darkness covered the land for nearly two and a half minutes. As a result, I didn't catch the "diamond ring" as it entered totality, but would not trade the experience of seeing the moon's shadow coming at us for that at all!
Now sadly, rather than merely take it all in and enjoy this most spectacular display of God's handiwork, the nut jobs all came out of the woodwork (and I don't think I'm being too harsh in calling them that). Sadly, this would include many pastors and church leaders, who somehow think that they know when the world will end based on such celestial events, despite that Jesus himself says that no one knows the day or the hour, outside of God the Father. Now there are indeed many passages in the Bible that tells us what signs will accompany the second coming of Christ, or the end of time. Jesus also says after this: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory…” (Matthew 24:29–30) There is even the prophet Joel, who is also quoted by the Apostle Peter in his first sermon on the day of Pentecost: “ ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. …I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ” (Acts 2:17–21)
Now based on Jesus' own words, I do not believe someone could get such a prediction right, even by accident. But for a moment, we shall assume the end is upon us. What then? “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come," Jesus says. (Matthew 24:42) There are many other signs to accompany "the end," and this by itself is a rather common sign, compared to some other accompanying signs. Between now and the next North American eclipse in 2024, there are something like 7 other solar eclipses around the world. Could it be a sign? Of course. If it is, what matters alone is that we are ready for it, meaning that our hearts are right with God and we trust and believe in the salvation that comes to us through the grace and mercy of Christ Jesus.
In reality, what St. Peter was driving at for us is that we’ve been in the “last days” since the time of Christ! It has been 2000 years and counting in the making! So don't worry about doomsday. Don't worry about the signs, if they indeed point to the end.
Allow your hearts to be changed by Christ.
Call on the name of God daily.
Know your unworthiness before God, and cherish your worthiness given you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope you who are reading this enjoyed that unique celestial phenomenon, and may it, like everything else, always point us back to Christ Jesus, who alone saves us from sin, from death, and from the Devil.
(adapted from the sermon for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, August 20, 2017)
Photo compilations and a few eclipse photos can be purchased here, for those who have requested.
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