Over this weekend there will be a beautiful full lunar eclipse of the super moon. There is nothing unique about eclipses of the moon, nor does “super” mean anything other than that this time around the moon is in full phase while also about as close to the Earth as she ever gets. This eclipse will also take place while Luna is high in the sky, so even those of us surrounded by city lights and sky scrapers have a chance to see the celestial event.
A lunar eclipse takes place fairly frequently, whenever the Earth lies directly between the sun and the moon. The moon is likely to appear coppery red as well, because despite her being in the Earth’s shadow, dispersed light from all the sunrises and sunsets around the Earth still illuminates her. And no matter where one lies on the spectrum of being a “total scientist” or a “total poet”, you can’t help but enjoy how beautiful the eclipse is.
No other creature on Earth is waiting to watch the upcoming eclipse. No tiger in a jungle will notice when it comes, nor creature of the sea, nor bird on the wing. Your dog will stay curled at your feet, your cat will groom herself. Only people will watch the clock and look at the sky hoping it remains clear. Only those created in God’s image will behold the sight and appreciate its beauty.
PRAYER: Our Lord in Heaven, we thank you for creating us in your image, so that we may look at the wonder of your creation, and even in our fallen state, sea the beauty in everything around us. In thy name we pray, AMEN.
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Authored by: Jeffery D. Kooistra