Article written by the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Sniffen, Dean of the Cathedral
In the quiet awe beneath Luke Jerram’s monumental Museum of the Moon—currently suspended within the soaring nave of the Cathedral of the Incarnation as part of our Moon as Sacred Mirror residency—a profound conversation unfolded. Gathered under the lunar light were three unlikely companions bound by a shared reverence for mystery and meaning: Congresswoman Laura Gillen, who serves our 4th Congressional District and sits on the Space Subcommittee; Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace and former Air Force officer; and myself, a Navy chaplain and Dean of the Cathedral.
Our gathering was more pilgrimage than press event. We spoke as people of responsibility and faith, science and spirit. We spoke as public servants, stewards of the earth, and as seekers—searching for deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos.
The moon above us in the Cathedral was no longer a mere object in the sky, but a mirror. We reflected on its sacred role—not only in regulating tides and stabilizing the Earth’s axis, but in illuminating our spiritual imagination. The moon pulls ocean and soul alike. Its rhythms shape the planting of crops, the migrations of animals, and the liturgical calendar of the Church. It shines over the Easter Vigil and Passover, Ramadan and Vesak. It graces poetry and prayer, prophecy and song.
Jason Kim spoke movingly about his work at Firefly, which became the first private company to land a rover on the lunar surface just last month. He also shared his personal sense of awe and responsibility. “When you send something to the moon,” he said, “you’re not just sending technology—you’re sending a message. You’re saying that we believe there’s more out there to understand. And that what we do here, on this fragile planet, matters.”
Congresswoman Gillen reflected on the role of the Space Subcommittee in fostering not only innovation, but imagination. “We want young people—especially those who have been left out of the conversation—to see that space belongs to them, too. It’s not just about reaching out; it’s about reaching in.”
In our discussion, we also turned to the needs of those who serve in the military. Jason served as an officer in the Air Force and I currently wear the uniform as Command Chaplain of the Empire Battalion, United States Marine Corps. We agreed that spiritual care for service members is not an afterthought—it is essential. When you stand under the night sky far from home, wondering whether you’ll see tomorrow, questions of purpose and presence are no longer abstract. They are urgent. The chaplain's role is to accompany, to hold space for meaning, to offer a reminder that even in the chaos, we are not alone. God is with us.
Faith and science are not adversaries. They are twin instruments in humanity’s quest for truth. Just as telescopes peer outward to chart the galaxies, contemplation turns inward to explore the soul. The great Christian mystics—from Gregory of Nyssa to Hildegard of Bingen, from Teresa of Avila to Howard Thurman—understood this inner space. “There is a light in us,” Thurman wrote, “that illumines the darkness.” That inner illumination is a reflection of God’s light, just like moonlight is a reflection of the sun - gentle but unwavering.
As part of our Moon as Sacred Mirror exhibition, the Cathedral has welcomed thousands of visitors to gaze upward in recent weeks—not only into the face of the moon, but into the questions it evokes. What does it mean to be human on a planet suspended in vastness? How do we live with reverence and purpose in a universe so immense? And how do we teach the next generation not only to ask these questions, but to live their answers with courage?
These questions, rooted in ancient sacred texts and ignited by modern science, bring us together across disciplines and traditions. As I looked across the church at a congresswoman, an aerospace CEO, and a moon hanging in our cathedral like a lantern of hope, I felt the sacred weight of possibility in our community.
The moon is not just a destination. It is a reminder. A reminder that we are part of a creation wider than we know. That wonder is holy. That seeking is sacred.
And that reaching for the stars begins with remembering who we are, here, together, under one sky.
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, Dean Michael Sniffen, Congresswoman Laura Gillen met for conversation and public remark
The Museum of the Moon remains open for visitation and contemplation through May 4. To learn more about related programs and events at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, visit www.incarnationgc.org.