Divine glory reveals a glorious light

Rev. Peter E. Bauer

United Church of Christ Minister

I don’t know if you have noticed, but this year has been a pretty good year for star gazing. There have been at least two periods of Hunter’s Moon, where the moon shines with great luminescence that creates a great sense of quiet and solace. It’s true, “The Heavens are declaring the glory of God” (Psalm 19: 1).

Technology has certainly enhanced our understanding about cosmic constellations and has led to further inquiry regarding the origins of the universe.

Since Jan. 24, 2022, with its arrival at the L2, the Webb Telescope has sent stunning photographs and images back to Earth that have been further analyzed by astronomers and other scientists.

Webb studies every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own Solar System.

Webb launched on Dec. 25, 2021. It does not orbit around the Earth like the Hubble Space Telescope; it orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometers (1 million miles) away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2.  

The findings of the Webb Telescope help to put into perspective where we are in our part of the universe. The documented footage from Webb also gives new intentional meaning to “The glory that is yet to be revealed.”

Granted, this message can be challenging to access and appreciate at times. Many of us have heard from so-called holy voices who only want to demonize and marginalize those with whom they do not agree and who present a threat to them.

Take for example, the response of some who expressed condemnation at the Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of Washington D.C., who preached to our elected leaders of the Executive Branch that they should extend “compassion and mercy to others. “ 

Why would a message of compassion and mercy be such a threat to those who seek judgment?

I remember years ago I was visiting a family member in Reno, NV.  During the conversation, at one point God was mentioned and this family member said.

“God’s going to get you for that!”

Hmmm, so God is a hit man? Doesn’t sound too inviting.

Consequently, that might be why there is such a challenge getting people to come to church.

Are we expecting evisceration or revelation?

Transformation does imply that we change. One friend of mine recently observed: “I don’t want anything to change!”

This is quite understandable and quite human.

Like Peter, James, and John in the Transfiguration, we are also at the mountaintop experience.

We don’t want it to end. But if transformation, change is to be real, it must be shared with others.

Bob Dylan reminds us:

“One more cup of coffee for the road:

“One more cup of coffee ‘fore I go the valley below.”

Ministry allows us the privilege of being with people in their best moments and in their worst moments.

Isaiah 43: 19 says it best:

“Behold, I am doing a new thing;
“now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
“I will make a way in the wilderness
“and rivers in the desert.”

What could the glory yet to be revealed mean for you and me?

Last Fall, there were nights when I would go outside and look at the Hunter’s Moon. My wife always loved the brilliance of the full moon, always said that she traveled best when there was a full moon.

Yes, we once looked at the moon together.

I now look at the moon alone.

But I see it now with new eyes.

I see and very much feel the comforting presence of illuminating light that lights my path and which lightens up everything around me.

The divine glory has been revealed and yet there is more glorious light yet to be revealed like seeing images and pictures of heavenly constellations through a telescope that are millions of miles away.

May the glory of God be revealed to us in powerful, trans-formative ways now and always.

Rev. Peter E. Bauer is a United Church of Christ minister. He has been a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and Medium.Com. He currently serves as the Intentional Interim Minister of Touchstone Community Church (United Church of Christ) in Boerne.