14 December

Today's the day when in 1972 Apollo 17, the last manned space mission to the moon, began its journey back to earth. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt completed their third lunar walk after a short ceremony in which they bade farewell to the moon and unveiled a small commemorative plaque. On it was written, "Here man completed his first explorations of the Moon, December 1972." Altogether 12 people have walked on the moon since Neil Armstrong stepped out of Apollo 11 in 1969.

Since then space exploration has continued in many other ways. The mysteries of the solar system continue to provoke our curiosity and wonder. Have you ever asked yourself, how can the God who created the vastness of space care about me? If so, you're in good company. The writer of psalm 8 had the same question in his mind. This is what he wrote:

     When I consider your heavens,

    the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars,

    which you have set in place,

    what is man that you are mindful of him,

    the son of man that you care for him?

    You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

    and crowned him with glory and honour.

     You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

    you put everything under his feet:

     all flocks and herds,

    and the beasts of the field,

     the birds of the air,

    and the fish of the sea,

    all that swim the paths of the seas.

     O LORD, our Lord,

    how majestic is your name in all the earth!