大象传媒

Good morning.

听

One of the defining moments of my adolescent life was the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik in October 1957. It was the dawn of the space age and around the same time 大象传媒 television began broadcasting 鈥淭he Sky at Night鈥�. It brought the stars, the planets and the heavens into our living room. Patrick Moore presented the complex world of astronomy in clear, accessible language. No doubt he would have been able to explain the complicated formula for the dating of Easter, which has traditionally been defined as 鈥淭he first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox鈥�.听听 Remembering of course that the liturgical does not always coincide with the astronomical equinox. No wonder many people favour a fixed date for the celebration of Easter!

听

Some people confuse the world of astronomy with that of astrology. Those who read their horoscopes in the newspaper sometimes subscribe to a belief, however vaguely, that there is a connection between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world. This probably reflects the need to explore the shapes and patterns of the stars as well as the patterns of our lives.

听

Whatever the gravitational pull of the moon, the stars and the planets, whatever the human characteristics we apply to our star signs, I am always overwhelmed by the insight of the composer of Psalm 8 almost 3000 years ago. The wonder and awe he expressed when he gazed into the heavens make a good foundation for our prayer today.

听

Heavenly Father

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands.

The moon and the stars that you arranged.

What is man that you should keep him in mind.