Voice: Doreen
Today is 13th of May. Take a moment to be still.
Psalm 133
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity![a]
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
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.
Acts 17:22-31
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Today, we will reflect on some aspects of Paul’s address at Areopagus in Acts 17, which is today’s appointed New Testament reading for Holy Communion.
The View from Above
A historical moment happened last month as the Artemis II mission soared around the far side of the moon on an unprecedented path that reached deeper into space than any human has traveled before.
It is helpful to note some of their observations as none of us here will have this opportunity in our lifetimes: to see the earth from outer space.
I want to point out what is called the “overview effect,” a term coined by science author and philosopher Frank White in 1987. It refers to a shift in perspective that occurs when humans are given the chance to view Earth in the context of its cosmic backdrop. This is opposite to how we may look up at the stars and marvel at the majesty of creation or the universe. This “from below” view is expressed in Psalm 8, where the psalmist said, “You have set your glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).
One observation is how habitable and welcoming earth is to life. Anything outside of her is death. It drives home the truth of how perfectly suited the planet is for our habitation and how unforgiving the great beyond appears. In space, everything has to be specially designed to keep the astronauts alive. A small error can be fatal. Scripture affirms that Earth is uniquely prepared for human life: “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind”(Psalm 115:16). Likewise, “He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18). Some will look at the outer darkness and say that they see death (cf. Matthew 8:12). There is a more profound appreciation of earthly life when one leaves it. There is only one “tiny blue dot” where we can inhabit and there is no place else for us to go.
Another observation is that there are no borders on earth. There are no political or religious lines. These are found only on human-made maps. We know this all along, but when viewed from space, earth seems like just one place which we and the rest of creation could inhabit. This echoes Paul’s address at Areopagus: “from one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth” (Acts 17:26). We have so much in common in contrast to the hostile universe, and it is remarkable that we have the tendency to separate ourselves from others and focus on self-destructive conflicts. Yet Scripture calls us to unity: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28), and reminds us that “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
Of course, as one views the thin ozone layers which makes earth habitable, there is a profound reminder of what has been gifted to us. Creation itself is sustained by God’s providence: “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25), and “in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). So, we need to be better stewards of her during our watch and not destroy it for future generations. From the beginning, humanity was entrusted with this responsibility: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). We are also warned against destroying what God has made (cf. Revelation 11:18).
Whether through Scripture or viewing earth from above, may these truths remind us to live well, alone and together.
The Collect for today
God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant that, as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Amen.
Be blessed by this son, inspired by today’s reflection, A View from Above:
We’ve always looked up from the valley floor
At the diamonds scattered on heaven’s door
Psalm 8 tells of the glory we see
A “from below” view of Your majesty
But the Artemis soared on a lonely flight
Beyond the moon, in the velvet night
To see what we’ve never seen before
Our home from a distant, silent shore.
It’s a tiny blue dot in the deep unknown
A garden of life that You call Your own
No lines on the map, no borders in sight
Just one breathing world in the cosmic night
From the highest heavens to the dust of the ground
In this overview, Your grace is found
One people, one planet, just as You planned.
Outside is the shadow, the reach of the grave
But here is the oxygen, the life that You gave
Isaiah said You formed it to be
Inhabited by the likes of me
The ozone is thin, a veil of Your care
Holding the breath and the life that we share
A fragile oasis, a miracle sphere
It’s holy ground, and You brought us here.
It’s a tiny blue dot in the deep unknown
A garden of life that You call Your own
No lines on the map, no borders in sight
Just one breathing world in the cosmic night
From the highest heavens to the dust of the ground
In this overview, Your grace is found
One people, one planet, just as You planned.
From one man You made every nation to dwell
To love one another and treat each other well
We’re stewards of Eden, the work of Your hand
So let us be faithful in our little watch
For future generations, for the glory of Son
The view from above says we are one.
In Him all things hold together
In Him we find our home
The view from above…
One tiny blue dot…
Link to the full 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
Daily Devotion 
Leave a comment