REFLECTIONS ON THE MOON: A SERMON FOR MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AND GOD’S BOUNTIFUL AND BEAUTIFUL GIFTS

A Traditional Family Table Set Up for Korean Chuseok, the East Asian Mid-Autumn Festival, Commemorating the Living and the Dead with Prayers of Thanksgiving

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Zhong Qiu Jie (中秋節), we are reminded of the deep bonds that unite us—bonds of family, community, and the faith we hold in the one true God. This time of year is a season of harvest, when the fruits of our labor are gathered, and we reflect on the blessings God has given us. It is also a time of reunion, thanksgiving, and remembrance of those who have gone before us.

Throughout the cultures of East Asia, this festival carries profound meaning. In China, the legend of Chang’E (嫦娥) who ascended to the moon reminds us of our longing for the divine, for immortality, and the hope of reunion with those we love. In Korea, the story of the Moon Rabbit (달토끼), which pounds the elixir of life, mirrors this same desire for eternity, the same hope for life everlasting. Japan tells of the Tsukimi festival (月見), a time of contemplation, when the full moon’s beauty calls us to remember the deeper realities of life beyond the material. In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of children and the joy they bring, reflecting the psalmist's words: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3). 

Each of these stories, though unique, reflects a common theme: the desire for life, for blessing, and for reunion with those we love. As Christians, we know that these deep longings find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ, the true light of the world. The Gospel of John tells us: "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:9). Christ is our everlasting light, more radiant than the moon or stars, and in Him, we find eternal life and the fulfillment of all our hopes.

Cakes and Tea Made for a Family “Communion,” Much like the Prosphora We Offer in Church, Reminding Us of Our Connection with Each Other 

THE GIFT OF THANKSGIVING 

As we celebrate the harvest during this festival, we are reminded of the biblical call to give thanks in all circumstances. The Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This time of harvest is not just about physical abundance, but about the spiritual fruit we cultivate through our relationship with God. St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “A thankful person is worth more than a rich person, for thankfulness itself is a great treasure.” We are called to see the gifts around us—our families, our communities, and the very air we breathe—as gracious blessings from God, who “crowns the year with His bounty” (Psalm 65:11).

In Southeast Asia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated with joy and gratitude for the crops and blessings received. Thailand’s “Loy Krathong,” similarly celebrated with lanterns and floating lights, symbolizes a release of sins and a prayer for blessings. We, too, are called to let go of our sins, trusting in God’s mercy, and to embrace the blessings He has stored up for us. Christ tells us: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

THE GIFT OF FAMILY AND ANCESTORS 

In many East Asian cultures, including Korea, China, and Vietnam, this festival is also a time to honor one’s ancestors, acknowledging their sacrifices and the ways they continue to shape our lives. Filial piety, “Xiào” (孝), remains central to our relationships with family and with God. The Fifth Commandment tells us, “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). This command not only extends to our living parents but also to those who have passed into the next life. We honor their memories and pray that God would keep their souls in the palm of His compassionate hand. 

As Ancient Christians, we pray for the repose of our ancestors’ souls, asking God to have mercy upon them. The bond of love that unites us to the departed is not broken by death, for “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8). St. Gregory of Nyssa teaches us that “the departed are not cut off from us; in fact, they are closer to us in Christ than ever before, for the love of Christ transcends the veil of death.” Through Christ, we are united with our ancestors in the Communion of Saints, and our prayers for them rise like incense before the throne of God.

A Traditional Song Dynasty Scene for Mid-Autumn, When the Family Gathers to Enjoy the Moonlight, Drink Tea, and Eat Sweet Cakes, Recounting All the Blessings of the Past Year

THE GIFT OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS 

As we look at the stories behind the Mid-Autumn Festival, we see a shared human yearning for immortality and the divine. The tale of Chang’e ascending to the moon, the Moon Rabbit creating the elixir of life, and the Japanese myth of Amaterasu, the sun goddess who brings light and life into the world, all reflect humanity’s search for the divine light that transcends the limits of our mortal lives. In Mongolia, the moon is believed to be a divine protector, a celestial being watching over the earth, like a watchdog in the courts of the one God, Tengri’s, Heaven. 

But we know that Christ is the true fulfillment of these myths and stories. He is the one who conquered death, the true elixir of life, and the light that shines in the darkness, brought into the world by an exalted woman, the Queen of Heaven, the Blessed Theotokos. St. Athanasius of Alexandria wrote, “God became man so that man might become god,” reminding us that in Christ, our yearning for the divine is not just a myth, but a reality. Our only hope for divinity is through Christ’s humble humanity. He brings us not only the hope of eternal life but the promise of reunion with those we love in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let us go forth, giving thanks for the harvest of God's blessings, cherishing the gift of family, and looking always to Christ, the true and eternal light.

COLLECT 

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us the light of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, as the true light of the world, we beseech Thee to bless us in this season of thanksgiving. Grant us thankful hearts for all Thy blessings, that we may honor Thee with joy and peace. Remember in Thy mercy our ancestors, that they may rest in Thy eternal light, and bless our families with love, wisdom, and unity. As we look upon the beauty of the moon, may we be reminded of the greater light of Christ, who reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

We Celebrate This Time with Lanterns, Remembering that Christ is the Light of the World!