Voice: Jennifer
Today is Friday, 13th of February. The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.
We read Psalm 31:1-16
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6 I hate[a] those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Genesis 33:1-11
And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
A Limping Man Meets His Brother
The previous chapter ended with a limping—but transformed—Jacob. He had wrestled through the night and walked away wounded, yet changed.
Now, in Genesis 33, he lifts his eyes and sees Esau approaching from afar—with four hundred men.
Old instincts surface. Jacob arranges his entourage in tiers, placing the servant women and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Even after his night with God, traces of preference remain.
But something deeper has shifted.
Jacob himself goes ahead and bows down to the ground seven times as he moves forward to meet his estranged brother. This is no longer the defiant younger sibling. This is a man walking in humility.
What happens next is unexpected:
“Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”
The feared confrontation becomes a tender reunion.
Esau had brought his men, perhaps for protection—but not for revenge. His heart, too, had changed. Seeing Jacob in humility made reconciliation possible. Brotherly love triumphed over vengeance, rivalry, and the old competition for family blessing.
Both brothers had gone through a journey of awakening. Scripture tells us in detail about Jacob’s wrestling. We are not told about Esau’s inner journey—but clearly, God had been at work in him as well.
“Blood is thicker than water,” we often say.
Yet how is it that we can move through life without deep and meaningful connections with our own families?
- Have we spoken heart to heart?
- Have we shown warmth and affection?
- Are we willing to forgive?
- Or have we been insensitive, selfish, or distant?
Often it is those closest to us who hurt us most—and whom we hurt most easily.
Will we ask the Lord for the strength to change?
Next week marks the celebration of Chinese New Year. While rooted in Chinese culture, it touches many Singaporeans across communities. It is a season of reunion.
The best way to bring Christian depth into this festival is not through superficial additions—Ang Paus with Bible verses or Christian cookie tins.
It is through love.
Through forgiveness.
Through treasuring one another.
Take intentional moments to connect.
Show genuine interest.
Have meaningful conversations.
Do not take your family for granted.
Reconciliation does not always require dramatic gestures. Sometimes it begins with humility, a bowed posture, and a willingness to embrace.
The story of Jacob and Esau ends with reconciliation.
May that also be the story of our families.
We pray this Collect:
Loving God,
you have reconciled us in Christ Jesus
and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.
We pray for all those from whom we are estranged.
Bring healing to strained or broken relationships.
Forgive us for the times we have wronged others,
whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention.
Grant us the courage and the grace to seek their forgiveness
and opportunity to make amends.
Where others have wronged us,
grant us a gracious spirit,
that we might forgive
even as we have been forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen
Be blessed by this song on Reconciliation
Oh let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
And let us be a holy nation
Where pride and prejudice shall cease
Let us speak the truth in love
To the lost and least of these
And let serve the Lord in unity so others will believe
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
Oh let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
And let us build on one foundation
Till He comes and the wars of men shall cease
Let us share the Love of Jesus without hypocrisy
Let mercy and forgiveness begin with you and me
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
Have we not one Father?
Have we not one faith?
Have we not one calling to become one Holy race??
Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace
And let us pray for restoration
And seek the Lord together on our knees
Let us keep our hearts from evil
And cling to what is good
Let us honor one another and love the brotherhood
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Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at terrywong@anglican.org.sg
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