Photo: The Loyola Crest

 

Spiritualilty: Arthur Gordon in A Touch of Wonder

There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of one small candle… In moments of discouragement, defeat or even despair, there are always certain things to cling to. Little things usually: remembered laughter, the face of a sleeping child, a tree in the wind – in fact, any reminder of something deeply felt or dearly loved. None is so poor as not to have many of these small candles. When they are lighted, darkness goes away and a touch of wonder remains.

Embodying the Ten Commandments: The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026

                                       Embodying the Ten Commandments:

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 

February 15, 2026

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Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

 

Jesus takes the Ten Commandments and he evolves them to suit the needs of the times. He recognizes that he is the fulfillment of the Torah, which has the Ten Commandments at its roots. St. Paul writes, “We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,” that many people cannot or will not understand. We must make certain that we discern God’s mysterious, hidden wisdom in today’s complex world, and we have to see the Ten Commandments as a contemporary guide for complex issues.

 

We are about to enter Lent this week with the Ash Wednesday celebrations and we see how Jesus immediately is sent into the desert to maintain right relations with God within the context of the human condition. He is to wrestle with his relationship with God first, then with others, and them within himself, and throughout this process, he is called to greater freedom. We see that he stands against the forces of the world that appeal to power, glory, honor, and idol making. He discerns well in the face of a culture that lies and he endorse a life that is free from violence, exploitation, and dissatisfaction. Jesus knows that God’s Commandments are designed to give us full life and freedom, which is the reason he urges us to hold fast to these precepts. 

 

Jesus shows us the laws are not fulfilled because they are laws; they are fulfilled in the person of Jesus. He does not merely teach morality. He embodies the laws. What does he say? He protects life. He restores dignity. He tells the truth. He loves faithfully. He gives himself completely so others may have life. We are not called to follow the laws, but to follow Jesus and to become what he becomes. We have to see how Jesus regarded the Ten Commandments. He did not throw them away; He built upon them, and the teaching evolved. 

 

We are called to do what Jesus did. He deepened them, radicalized them, and made them his own. He moved from the long-standing tradition of external compliance, a law written upon stone tablets, to an inner transformation, a law written upon human hearts that break and suffer. If we are people who are law-obedient and like to adhere to law and order, perhaps we need to ask where my heart needs to soften or to have a metanoia. Love is the beginning and the purpose of law. Another name for love is mercy.

 

The Ten Commandments address this question today, “How must I live so that others around me can flourish?” They provide us with moral responsibility for the welfare and flourishing of our neighbor instead of legal compliance. They call our hearts to be accountable so that we can compassion and empathy for others, and it provides us a God-given basis and grounding for dignity for each person. The end result is a human dignity rooted in freedom and responsibility because we know ourselves to be part of God’s family. 

 

So, as St. Paul advocates a wisdom for the mature, how does my understanding of the Ten Commandments need to evolve today in this mysterious, hidden wisdom of God? Where does my heart need to soften and grow?

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (James 1) Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

Tuesday: (James 1) Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

 

Wednesday: (Joel 2) Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.

 

Thursday: (Deuteronomy 30) Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous.

 

Friday (Isaiah 58) Thus says the Lord GOD: Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins.

 

Saturday (Isaiah 58) If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Mark 8) The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?

 

Tuesday: (Mark 8) The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 

 

Wednesday (Matthew 6) When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

 

Thursday (Luke 9) The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.

 

Friday (Matthew 9) “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?

 

Saturday (Luke 5) Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.

 

Saints of the Week

 

February 15: Claude La Colombiere, S.J., religious (1641-1682), was a Jesuit missionary, ascetical writer, and confessor to Margaret Mary Alocoque at the Visitation Convent at Paray La Monial. As a Jesuit, he vowed to live strictly according to the Jesuit Constitutions to achieve utmost perfection. Together, they began a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

February 17: The Seven Founders of the Servites (Thirteenth Century) were from Florence and they joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin, who were also known as Praisers. They devoted their apostolate to prayer and service and withdrew to a deserted mountain to build a church and hermitage. After adopting a rule and gaining recruits, they changed their name to the Servants of Mary. 

 

February 21: Peter Damian, bishop and Doctor (1007-1072), was orphaned and raised by his brother, Damian, a priest in Ravenna. He began as a hermit monk and was then made abbot and cardinal. He became a reformer in the church often speaking out against clerical laxness. 

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• February 15, 1732. Fr. Chamillard SJ, who had been reported by the Jansenists as having died a Jansenist and working miracles, suddenly appeared alive and well! 
• February 16, 1776. At Rome, the Jesuit prisoners in Castel S Angelo were restored to liberty. Fr. Romberg, the German assistant, aged 80, expressed a wish to remain in prison. 
• February 17, 1775. The French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan Ambassadors in Rome intimate to the newly elected Pope Pius VI the will of their respective sovereigns that the Jesuits imprisoned in Castel S Angelo should not be released. 
• February 18, 1595. St Robert Southwell, after two and a half years imprisonment in the tower, was removed to Newgate and there thrust into a dungeon known as "Limbo." 
• February 19, 1581. The election of Fr. Claude Acquaviva as fifth general in the Fourth General Congregation. He was only 37 years of age and a Jesuit for only 14 years. He was general under eight popes. He had been a fellow novice with St Stanislaus. 
• February 20, 1860. Pope Pius IX visits the rooms of St Ignatius. 
• February 21, 1595. At Tyburn, the martyrdom of Robert Southwell after he had suffered brutal tortures in Topcliffe's house and in prison. He embraced the jailer who brought him word that he was to be executed. As he breathed his last, Lord Mountjoy, who presided over the execution, exclaimed: "May my soul be one day with that of this man."

Encarnando los Diez Mandamientos: El Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario 2026

                                           Encarnando los Diez Mandamientos:

El Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario 2026

15 de febrero de 2026

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Eclesiástico 15:15-20; Salmo 119; 1 Corintios 2:6-10; Mateo 5:17-37

 

Jesús toma los Diez Mandamientos y los adapta a las necesidades de la época. Reconoce que él es el cumplimiento de la Torá, cuyas raíces son los Diez Mandamientos. San Pablo escribe: «Hablamos con sabiduría a los que han alcanzado madurez», que muchos no pueden o no quieren comprender. Debemos asegurarnos de discernir la sabiduría misteriosa y oculta de Dios en el complejo mundo actual, y debemos ver los Diez Mandamientos como una guía contemporánea para temas complejos.

 

Estamos a punto de entrar en la Cuaresma esta semana con las celebraciones del Miércoles de Ceniza y vemos cómo Jesús es enviado inmediatamente al desierto para mantener una relación correcta con Dios dentro del contexto de la condición humana. Debe luchar primero con su relación con Dios, luego con los demás y con ellos dentro de sí mismo, y a lo largo de este proceso, es llamado a una mayor libertad. Vemos que se opone a las fuerzas del mundo que apelan al poder, la gloria, el honor y la idolatría. Discierne bien frente a una cultura mentirosa y aboga por una vida libre de violencia, explotación e insatisfacción. Jesús sabe que los Mandamientos de Dios están diseñados para darnos vida plena y libertad, por lo que nos insta a aferrarnos a estos preceptos.

 

Jesús nos muestra que las leyes no se cumplen por ser leyes; se cumplen en la persona de Jesús. Él no se limita a enseñar moralidad. Él encarna las leyes. ¿Qué dice? Protege la vida. Restaura la dignidad. Dice la verdad. Ama fielmente. Se entrega por completo para que otros tengan vida. No estamos llamados a seguir las leyes, sino a seguir a Jesús y a convertirnos en lo que él llega a ser. Tenemos que ver cómo Jesús consideró los Diez Mandamientos. No los desechó; los construyó sobre la base de ellos, y la enseñanza evolucionó.

 

Estamos llamados a hacer lo que Jesús hizo. Él los profundizó, los radicalizó y los hizo suyos. Pasó de la arraigada tradición de obediencia externa, una ley escrita en tablas de piedra, a una transformación interior, una ley escrita en corazones humanos que se rompen y sufren. Si somos personas obedientes a la ley y nos gusta adherirnos a ella y al orden, tal vez debamos preguntarnos dónde necesita mi corazón ablandarse o experimentar una metanoia. El amor es el principio y el propósito de la ley. Otro nombre para el amor es misericordia.

 

Los Diez Mandamientos abordan esta pregunta hoy: "¿Cómo debo vivir para que quienes me rodean prosperen?". Nos otorgan la responsabilidad moral del bienestar y el desarrollo de nuestro prójimo, en lugar de la obediencia a las leyes. Nos instan a ser responsables de corazón para que podamos sentir compasión y empatía por los demás, y nos proporcionan una base divina para la dignidad de cada persona. El resultado final es una dignidad humana arraigada en la libertad y la responsabilidad, porque nos reconocemos parte de la familia de Dios.

 

Así pues, mientras San Pablo aboga por una sabiduría para los maduros, ¿cómo debe evolucionar hoy mi comprensión de los Diez Mandamientos en esta sabiduría misteriosa y oculta de Dios? ¿Dónde necesita mi corazón ablandarse y crecer?

 

Escritura para la misa diaria

Lunes: (Santiago 1) Hermanos míos, considérense muy dichosos cuando se encuentren en diversas pruebas, pues saben que la prueba de su fe produce perseverancia. Y que la perseverancia sea perfecta, para que sean perfectos y completos, sin que les falte nada.

 

Martes: (Santiago 1) Bienaventurado el que persevera en la tentación; porque cuando haya resistido la prueba, recibirá la corona de vida que ha prometido a los que le aman.

 

Miércoles: (Joel 2) Ahora pues, dice Jehová, volved a mí con todo vuestro corazón, 
con ayuno y lloro y lamento; Rasgad vuestro corazón, no vuestros vestidos, y volved a Jehová vuestro Dios.

 

Jueves: (Deuteronomio 30) Hoy he puesto ante ti la vida y la prosperidad, la muerte y la perdición. Si obedeces los mandamientos del SEÑOR, tu Dios, que te ordeno hoy, amándolo, andando en sus caminos y guardando sus mandamientos, estatutos y decretos, vivirás y te multiplicarás.

 

Viernes (Isaías 58) Así dice el Señor DIOS: Clama a voz en cuello y sin piedad; alza tu voz como toque de trompeta; denuncia a mi pueblo su maldad, y a la casa de Jacob su pecado.

 

Sábado (Isaías 58) Si quitas de en medio de ti la opresión, la calumnia y la maledicencia; si repartes tu pan con el hambriento y sacias a los afligidos; entonces nacerá para ti luz en las tinieblas, y las tinieblas serán para ti como el mediodía.

 

Evangelio:

Lunes: (Marcos 8) Los fariseos se acercaron y comenzaron a discutir con Jesús, pidiéndole una señal del cielo para ponerlo a prueba. Él suspiró profundamente y dijo: 
"¿Por qué esta generación pide una señal?

 

Martes: (Marcos 8) Los discípulos habían olvidado traer pan, y solo tenían uno en la barca. Jesús les advirtió: «Tengan cuidado, cuídense de la levadura de los fariseos y de la levadura de Herodes». 

 

Miércoles (Mateo 6) Cuando des limosna, no toques trompeta delante de ti, como hacen los hipócritas en las sinagogas y en las calles para ganarse la alabanza de los demás. En verdad, les digo que ya recibieron su recompensa.

 

Jueves (Lucas 9) El Hijo del Hombre debía sufrir mucho y ser rechazado por los ancianos, los principales sacerdotes y los escribas, y ser asesinado y al tercer día resucitar.

 

Viernes (Mateo 9) “¿Por qué nosotros y los fariseos ayunamos mucho, pero tus discípulos no ayunan?” Jesús les respondió: “¿Acaso pueden los invitados a la boda estar de luto mientras el novio está con ellos?

 

Sábado (Lucas 5) Jesús vio a un recaudador de impuestos llamado Leví sentado en el puesto de impuestos. Le dijo: «Sígueme». Y dejándolo todo, se levantó y lo siguió. 
Entonces Leví le ofreció un gran banquete en su casa, y una gran multitud de recaudadores de impuestos 
y otros estaban sentados a la mesa con ellos .

 

Santos de la semana

 

15 de febrero: Claude La Colombière, SJ, religioso (1641-1682), fue misionero jesuita, escritor ascético y confesor de Margarita María Alocoque en el Convento de la Visitación de Paray La Monial. Como jesuita, hizo voto de vivir estrictamente conforme a las Constituciones Jesuitas para alcanzar la máxima perfección . Juntos, iniciaron la devoción al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.

 

17 de febrero: Los siete fundadores de los Servitas (Siglo XIII) Procedentes de Florencia, se unieron a la Cofradía de la Santísima Virgen, también conocida como los Alabadores . Dedicaron su apostolado a la oración y al servicio, y se retiraron a una montaña desierta para construir una iglesia y una ermita. Tras adoptar una regla y conseguir adeptos, cambiaron su nombre a Siervos de María.

 

21 de febrero : Pedro Damián, obispo y doctor (1007-1072), quedó huérfano y fue criado por su hermano Damián, sacerdote en Rávena. Comenzó como monje eremita y luego fue nombrado abad y cardenal. Se convirtió en un reformador de la Iglesia, denunciando a menudo la laxitud clerical.

 

Esta semana en la historia jesuita

 

• 15 de febrero de 1732. ¡El Padre Chamillard SJ, de quien los jansenistas habían informado que había muerto siendo jansenista y que obraba milagros, apareció de repente vivo y bien!
• 16 de febrero de 1776. En Roma, los jesuitas presos en Castel S. Angelo fueron restituidos en libertad. El P. Romberg, asistente alemán, de 80 años, expresó su deseo de permanecer en prisión.
• 17 de febrero de 1775. Los embajadores de Francia, España, Portugal y Napolitano en Roma comunican al recién elegido Papa Pío VI la voluntad de sus respectivos soberanos de que los jesuitas encarcelados en Castel S. Angelo no sean liberados.
• 18 de febrero de 1595. San Roberto Southwell, después de dos años y medio de prisión en la torre, fue trasladado a Newgate y allí encerrado en una mazmorra conocida como "Limbo".
• 19 de febrero de 1581. Elección del P. Claudio Acquaviva como quinto general de la Cuarta Congregación General. Tenía solo 37 años y solo catorce de jesuita. Fue general bajo ocho papas. Había sido compañero de noviciado de San Estanislao.
• 20 de febrero de 1860. El Papa Pío IX visita las habitaciones de San Ignacio.
• 21 de febrero de 1595. En Tyburn, Robert Southwell fue martirizado tras sufrir brutales torturas en casa de Topcliffe y en prisión. Abrazó al carcelero que le comunicó que sería ejecutado. Al exhalar su último aliento, Lord Mountjoy, quien presidía la ejecución, exclamó: «Que mi alma esté un día con la de este hombre».

Photo: Madonna and Children

 

Poem: Emily Dickinson from “Hope is the Thing With Feathers”

Hope is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm …

Spirituality: John O'Donohue in Anam Cara

May you know in your soul that there is no need to be afraid...You are not going somewhere strange. You are going back to the home you never left. May you have a wonderful urgency to live your life to the full...May your going be sheltered and your welcome assured. May your soul smile in the embrace of your anam cara.

Spirituality: Hope’s Home, Cynthia Bourgeault in Mystical Hope

Hope’s home is at the innermost point in us, and in all things. It is a quality of aliveness. It does not come at the end, as the feeling that results from a happy outcome. Rather, it lies at the beginning, as a pulse of truth that sends us forth. When our innermost being is attuned to this pulse it will send us forth in hope, regardless of the physical circumstances of our lives. Hope fills us with the strength to stay present, to abide in the flow of the Mercy no matter what outer storms assail us. It is entered always and only through surrender; that is, through the willingness to let go of everything we are presently clinging to. And yet when we enter it, it enters us and fills us with its own life — a quiet strength beyond anything we have ever known.

Spirituality: Naomi Shihab Nye in A Maze Me

 What do you want to be? People always ask. They don’t ask who or how you want to be?

I might have said, amazed forever. I wanted to be curious, interested, interesting, hopeful – and a little bit odd was okay too. I did not know if I wanted to run a bakery, be a postal worker, play a violin or the timpani drum in an orchestra. That part was unknown.

Spirituality: Joan Chittister in Scarred by Trouble, Transformed by Hope

Clearly hopelessness has at least as much to do with what we bring to life as it does with what life brings to us… The challenge of hopelessness is the challenge to re-enter the human race, to take our part in it knowing that it is as much our responsibility to shape life as it is for life to shape us…Hopelessness calls us beyond quitting what we cannot quit, to learn how to do what we have been born to do. Even if this means doing one thing while waiting to do another.