“1968 was a terrible year. A brutal war in Vietnam. Global riots and political unrest. Earthquakes. Violence and police brutality surrounding civil rights demonstrations.” Terry took a deep breath and continued his litany. “The assassination of Martin Luther King. The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Riots and police brutality at the Democratic National Convention. But then, on December 21st, Apollo 8 launched and on Christmas Eve the three astronauts aboard became the first humans to orbit the moon and to see an “earthrise.” And as they orbited 238,900 miles away on Christmas Eve, they gave a live broadcast in which they read from the creation story at the beginning of the book of Genesis. About one billion people, one quarter of the world’s population, heard them.” 

Hearing Terry, one of the retired old-timers wrap up his presentation of the historic Apollo Mission Control with the story of Apollo 8 and the Christmas of 1968 was one of the true thrills of giving tours at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. It could give me chills even on Houston’s hot summer days. Astronaut Frank Borman finished the broadcast on that memorable Christmas Eve by highlighting the goodness of the divine creation. “Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.” This message from their lunar perspective, that the earth was still good, even in 1968 resonated around the world and prompted a flood of fanmail for the crew. And as Terry would dramatically conclude his speech, one anonymous letter simply read, “Thank you Apollo 8. You saved 1968.”

2020 has also been a terrible year. Severe wildfires and then massive flooding in Australia. A global pandemic that has killed many, left others with permanent health damage, and many others unemployed. Many families this Christmas are celebrating without the loved ones they lost to the virus, whom they were perhaps unable to visit during their last days. Riots and unrest over civil rights and police brutality. A presidential election that began with a divided country and seems in the aftermath to be continuing to drive us further and further apart. 

As Catholics we naturally turn to the Lord and the sacraments for spiritual support during difficult and trying times. Yet for many of us the most trying part of this year has been its spiritual impact. So many, especially those whose health is most at risk have been without access to the sacraments on which we rely as the God-given source of his grace for our lives. Even for those who can still receive the sacraments the spiritual toll of this year is undeniable. For many their faith in the Church has been shaken as the McCarrick report became the latest reminder of the failures of some Church leaders to protect those who are most vulnerable. For others their faith in God has been shaken by this difficult year. Many, many find themselves struggling to love their neighbors as this difficult year draws to a close.

As far as I know, there is no dramatic gesture planned by NASA for this Christmas Eve. Yet while we too have had a traumatic year, we can take solace in the knowledge that the same God who created the entire universe “good,” continues to sustain it in goodness whether in 1968 or in 2020.

Not only that, but tonight we celebrate the fact that God has stooped down to save us. When we turned away from the God who created us from nothing and turned to an existence more cold, empty, and devoid of life than the space between here and the moon, God did not leave us to our corruption. Rather, the very Word through whom the universe was created and in whose image we were made humbled himself and was born as a helpless child; “the Image of the Father, came and dwelt in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind made after Himself.” (St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation, 14). We celebrate tonight that not only does God create us and sustain us even in our most difficult moments, but even in the midst of chaos the Prince of Peace is with us conforming us to his own glory. On some level Apollo 8 may have “saved” 1968. Their gesture was heartwarming and meaningful in the midst of pain and anxiety and helped to remind people that the world was still good because God created it so. They were worthy of the thanks that so many people sent them for their gesture. Yet this year and every year we should say, “thank you Jesus, our Emmanuel, for coming to save all of us on your good Earth. Even in 2020.”

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Image: US Post Office, US Stamp (Scott #1371); Design is based on a photograph taken by the astronauts.