The God Who Made the Stars is Mindful of Me

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Reading 1 Ephesians 1:15-23

Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7

R. (7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
 putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

 

 

Alleluia John 15:26b, 27a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: 
 “I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say. 
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The God Who Made the Stars is Mindful of Me

October 17, 2026 // Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7 

Reflect on the Word // 

It was the last afternoon of my family’s beach vacation. While my husband tossed a football with some of our children and the others chased waves on their boogie boards, I drifted quietly in the ocean. Tilting my face toward the warm sun, I let the water hold me. The rhythmic waves, salty breeze, and brilliant blue sky seemed to wash every distraction away.

As I floated there, I became deeply aware that God saw me. Not because I was accomplishing anything or checking something off my to-do list, but simply because I was fully present to the moment He had given me, content and peaceful within His beautiful creation.

In that moment, I truly sensed His delight in me.

In today’s Psalm, David expresses a similar wonder: “When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place—What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4-5) Standing before the grandeur of creation, it is easy to feel small. The vast ocean, like the countless stars, reminds us just how great God is. Yet instead of concluding that we are insignificant, David marvels that the Creator of it all chooses to be mindful of us.

How often do we forget that?

We measure our worth by productivity, perfection, or whether anyone notices our efforts. But God’s love does not depend on any of those things. The God Who fashioned the heavens also knows each of our names, our fears, and our joys. We don’t have to earn His attention—we already have it.

Today, take time to pause and watch the sunrise, gaze at the stars, breathe in the fragrance of a flower, or listen to the ocean’s waves. Then remember: The God Whose glory fills creation also sees and delights in you.

Relate to the Lord // Spend time in nature today and read Psalm 8. May you experience His delight.

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