Happy Eclipse Day, everyone!
What an exciting day! Cincinnati is right on the edge of the path of totality, so we got a 99.9% eclipse, and wow was it awesome!
We watched it from the roof of our condo, and thankfully it was a clear day!
It got super eerily dark — like dusk — and chilly, and all the birds flew away. I’m going to be honest, for a minute there, I had a bit of an adrenaline rush being spooked out.
But I’m very glad that we got to experience it!
I listened to an incredible homily about the eclipse, and it was just amazing. It was about how God made the heavens and the earth — including the sun, moon and stars. And so He knew ahead of time about all the eclipses and astronomical happenings throughout history from the get-go…including today’s eclipse. I won’t “spoil” the homily for you, but it turns out that the intersection of where the path of the last solar eclipse and the 2024 solar eclipse is Carbondale, Illinois…which is a tiny town that was made the abortion capital of the United States after Roe v. Wade was overturned. I’ll let the priest explain the rest.
But he talks about how, for example, when Jesus died on April 3, 33 AD, there was an eclipse at 3:00 pm, resulting in a blood moon that night. Along with so many other interesting astronomical things surrounding Christ’s birth, Jesus’ conception, etc.
It is really worth a listen. I’ll link it right here. (It starts at the 23 minute mark).
I don’t know about you, but maybe it’s because we’re in the path of totality, or perhaps because the world is in dire need of talking about something other than Diddy, the war between Gaza/Israel, and Joe Biden vs. Trump’s poll numbers…but it seems like the world is buzzing with…”is this eclipse a sign of the end of the world?”
It’s all over YouTube and social media. Secular creators, Christian creators…everyone is asking: is this the end of the world?
And to be honest, sure: one could make a very flimsy case for it: the earthquake in NYC this week, the crash of the freight carrier ship resulting in the collapse of the Baltimore bridge, the big swath of cicadas (aka locusts) that are going to emerge from hibernation this year, the war between Israel and Gaza. Sure…if one wanted to put on a tinfoil hat, I’m sure they could make a case.
And I’m not gonna lie, when the skies were darkening and it looked super spooky, I did pray out loud, “Lord, I love you. If You’re on Your way, please take Steven and I and our families!”
But the truth of the matter is, for as much click bait as people want to put out onto the internet sparking the fears and curiosities of their audience, whether the world was going to end today (spoiler alert: it didn’t), or tomorrow, or on a day that we’re around or not to see it, one day, we will have to stand before the Father in Heaven and account for our life here on earth.
I know, I know, that’s definitely not something I want to think about either…but all this “end of the world” stuff that’s been floating around the internet recently has definitely made me stop and think about it.
Jesus coming again is nothing to fear for us. In fact, we should welcome it: as we will be reunited with our Savior. He has promised us that “He makes all things new.” (Rev 21:5).
Yes, we are going to have to stand accountable for everything we’ve done in our lives, but our God of justice is also a God of unimaginable mercy. Mercy that is available to all, simply by choosing Christ.
And with yesterday being Divine Mercy Sunday, we were reminded just how much we can put our faith and trust in the Father who shed His blood and gave His life to offer us the unending amount of mercy to save us from the justice we actually deserve.
Mercy is the saving power of my life, truly. Given my past with anorexia — and all the deceit, darkness and deception it entailed — the only reason I am here today is because of the life saving forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ. I’m living proof that I was absolutely spared of what I actually deserved, and instead really was made a new creation in Christ. The old has gone, the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17)
The end of the world — Jesus’ Second Coming — is nothing to fear, but rather, a reminder that we are to be in the world but not of the world.
The earth is our temporary home. We are just passing through. Our real home is in Heaven with Jesus and the Father.
And when we live from a place of recognition of that truth, our perspective shifts, and we want to live with a Heaven-first mentality.
All of a sudden, certain genres of music or entertainment just don’t appeal anymore. Quality relationships and quality time rise in importance. Things that you give your time, money and attention to, all of a sudden have a higher purpose.
And living from that state of heart, that we can welcome the homecoming that will be in the future — whether near or distant.
So that’s all for today. Time to go make dinner and park my pregnant booty on the couch for the evening!
Talk to you Wednesday!
xoxo Caralyn