Peace until the moon is no more

It was reported some years ago that, in the 1950s, a plan was explored by the US to ‘nuke’ the moon to demonstrate their power to the Soviet Union. It is this which forms the basis of the following meditation, following the words of Psalm 72, as our JUST LENT course comes to an end this evening.

May he live while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish
    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.  (Psalm 72)

Can you believe
there was a plan to blow up the moon,
to send it to oblivion,
a cold war gesture to the Soviets
that the American arm was strong,
as the lunar light went out
and dust exploded across space,
announcing to the world that ‘the moon is no more’?

Can you believe
this night there is a child hiding,
with her father who covers her like a bomb shelter,
as they wait for the sounds of war to cease,
as buildings are blown to oblivion around them,
as homes are reduced to rubble?

Can you believe
this night there is an inflatable boat
fighting with the flow of the sea,
filled with those who have paid the fee to safety,
lined the pockets of human traffickers
who offer no money back guarantee
if death comes their way,
as they fly away from war?

Can you believe
this night there is a troop of soldiers
hiding behind a wall,
sent with instructions to take a land
that is not their own?

Can you believe
this night there is the endless promise of peace,
breathed by Christ upon his Apostles
and every day and night
since that moment in the upper room,
which provides an echo of the angel’s song
above the shepherds’ heads
on Bethlehem’s moonlit hills?

Can you believe
this night that peace is possible?
That Trident Missiles could disappear 
as deep into the past
as they are in the sea this night?

Can you believe
this night that peace is possible?
Where does it start?

May he live while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish
    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.