Saturday, October 17, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary 472
First Reading — Ephesians 1:15–23
Ephesians 1:15–16 — Paul gives thanks to God for the believers’ faith in Jesus Christ and their love for one another. He continually remembers them in his prayers.
Ephesians 1:17–18 — Paul prays that God will give them wisdom and spiritual understanding, opening their hearts to recognize the hope of their calling and the riches of their inheritance.
Ephesians 1:19–20 — God’s extraordinary power is at work in those who believe. This is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand in heaven.
Ephesians 1:21 — Christ reigns above every ruler, authority, power, and dominion, both in the present age and in the age to come.
Ephesians 1:22–23 — God placed everything under Christ’s authority and made Him the head of the Church, which is His body.
Paul reminds the first-century believers that Jesus had already been raised, exalted, and given authority over all things.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 8:2–3ab, 4–5, 6–7
Response: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
Psalm 8:2–3 — Lord, Your name is glorious throughout the earth! Your majesty reaches above the heavens, and even children bring praise to You.
Psalm 8:4–5 — When we look upon the heavens, the moon, and the stars, we wonder why God gives such attention and care to mankind.
Psalm 8:6–7 — God crowned humanity with glory and honor, giving mankind responsibility over the works of His hands.
Alleluia — John 15:26b, 27a
Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will testify about Him, and His disciples will also bear witness to the truth.
Gospel — Luke 12:8–12
Luke 12:8 — Jesus promises that whoever openly acknowledges Him before others will also be acknowledged by the Son of Man before God’s angels.
Luke 12:9 — Those who deny Jesus before others will likewise be denied before God’s angels.
Luke 12:10 — Jesus explains that speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Luke 12:11 — Jesus warns His disciples that they will be brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities because of their faith.
Luke 12:12 — They should not be anxious about what to say in their defense because the Holy Spirit will teach them what to speak at that moment.
Jesus prepares His disciples for the persecution they would encounter. He promises that the Holy Spirit will guide them as they proclaim the Gospel before religious and governing authorities.
Kingdom Connection
Today’s readings reveal the authority of the resurrected Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in His Kingdom.
Paul explains that Jesus had already been raised from the dead and seated above every earthly and spiritual authority.
Jesus prepared His first-century disciples to proclaim the Gospel despite persecution, promising that the Holy Spirit would guide them.
Christ’s Kingdom was not waiting for Him to receive authority. He had already been enthroned, and His disciples were called to proclaim His Kingdom to the world.
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