The Meaning of the Moon

I don’t know how many of you saw the total solar eclipse we had in 2017, but I and my classmates went outside and passed around three sets of disposable glasses to watch it with. I’m fascinated by astronomy, and from the numbers, many of you are interested as well. So I thought I would spend a little time this week talking about astronomy – in particular, about the moon, and why it may have more significance spiritually than you think.

Identifying Meaning

Several weeks ago, I wrote about a book on the Golden Ratio. One of the things that the author did was validate or debunk various stories of the Golden Ratio’s use in art, music, etcetera. The author considered these attributions justified when they could be supported in two ways: 1) the physical facts bore out the pattern (in this case, the Golden Ratio); and 2) the artist/composer/etc. had explicitly written of this pattern.

I shall apply the same test to the patterns I am about to discuss with regard to the moon. I shall be utilizing basic physical facts of physics (ones evident to those who, like me, are only casual observers of the night sky) and the written word of the artist who created this physical universe, the composer of this universal symphony.

The Moon and Mankind

This is a relatively short post, so I will use a relatively short text and link to other passages as necessary. We start, as is fitting, in Genesis 1.

Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:14-19

Let’s talk about “the lesser light.” What are her qualities? She does not, in fact, shine her own light; she reflects the shine of the greater light, and is outshone by him. But she has her own beauty, her own glory, and, to an extent, her own domain. She is rather like the sun’s viceroy for the night hours, when the sun hides his glory and allows the earth to rest. Her light is not constant, like that of the sun; it is dynamic, dependent, constantly renewing as she draws glory from her lord.

In other words, the relationship of the moon to the sun is very much like that of man to God. A right relationship with the Creator plays out every morning and evening like a pageant as the moon takes her place and gracefully yields it back to her Master, only for him to give it her again. I do not think this is a coincidence.

Solar Eclipse: the Pageant in Disorder?

What, though, are we to make of the solar eclipse? The ancients thought that they were very powerful spiritual markers. What do we make of the part of the pageant where the moon blocks out the sun?

The sun is, indeed, blocked for a few seconds, though it does not cease to shine. But that is not the full significance of an eclipse. Consider that the hottest part of the sun – the corona – can only be seen by the naked eye with the help of a solar eclipse. Consider, also, that a solar eclipse does not diminish the light of the sun; you are more likely to develop solar retinopathy during an eclipse, because the (literally) blinding light of the sun, which we by habit don’t look at, seems less threatening – but it can still scorch our eyes. The solar eclipse is not about the moon blocking the sun; it is about their particular conjunction allowing us to see both in a new way – and the glory of both is increased.

Let’s talk now about the incarnation, when God’s glory was hidden behind the earthly glory of man, but still shone around the edges enough to blind some who neglected to give due reverence to its brilliance. Aspects of God we had never seen before – the hot-burning fire of his consuming love – now became evident. And we also saw man in a new light. The two glories, one eternal and one mortal, came together in a new way, and the majesty of both was increased. Perhaps the ancients were right – and it is interesting to note that an eclipse may have occurred during the crucifixion, though this alone could not account for the sky darkening for three full hours.

The Stars

One last note before I end. Some will say that the Hebrews’ ignorance of astronomy is shown in the throwaway line, “He made the stars also.” After all, we know now that many stars are much larger and more powerful than our sun, and certainly deserve to be ranked above our little moon.

But do they? As I said in my last post, we cannot rank the importance of things with an equation. Size does not mean so very much; a human means more than a burning ball of gas, however large that ball may be, or how small the human may be. Importance, significance, can only be judged if you know the plot of the story. The writer of Genesis had that plot in mind, though he did not know the plot twist – that the sun must be set first in importance among all the starry hosts of heaven, for his light would warm the face of his Maker.

“Moon” by andreacalicchia is licensed under PDM 3.0