In the eighth psalm, the Church prays, “When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god; with glory and honor you crowned him, gave him power over the works of your hands, put all things under his feet.”
From when the first man gazed in wonder at the stars unto today, Lord, humanity has marveled at the glories of the universe you have made. Yet, how much more glorious you have made us! While the stars inspire wonder, only humanity is capable of wondering… a wonder that inspires our praise, drives our quest for understanding, and motivates our exploration. This wonder and the dominion you have given us move us to decipher the laws written into nature that we might more fully unfold the potentials of your creation and discover yet more reasons to wonder.
So we stand before you today with our eyes gazing heavenward, content not merely to gaze upon the stars, but eager to go to them that we might more intimately savor their beauty, more keenly interpret their mysteries, and more prudently apply their lessons. As these aspirations pull our eyes skyward, let us not forget the ground beneath our feet or your children by our sides. May what we embark upon today not only lift a few beyond the reach of gravity, but elevate also the good of the community in which you have placed us.
So, Lord, we pray that you grant success to the work of our hands (Ps 90:17), insight to the searching of our minds, and wisdom to the judgment of our hearts that this endeavor might unveil the glory which the heavens proclaim (Ps 19:1 Rom 1:2) and raise souls to you whose ways are as high above our own as the stars are above the earth (Is 55:9), you whose son lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.