Gospel: February 11, 2026
February 11, 2026 (Wednesday)
5th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 (Green/White)
Our Lady of Lourdes
Ps 37: 5-6, 30-31, 39-40
The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
1st Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-10
Gospel: Mark 7:14-23
Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters a person from the outside can make that person unclean.
It is what comes from within that makes a person unclean. Let everyone who has ears listen.”
When Jesus got home and was away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about this saying, and he replied, “So even you are dull? Do you not see that whatever comes from outside cannot make a person unclean, since it enters not the heart but the stomach, and is finally passed out?”Thus Jesus declared that all foods are clean.
And he went on, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.”
Reflection:
Let us strive for true authenticity.
In today’s gospel, Jesus continues his rebuke of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Scribes. He reminds us that true holiness is not about external acts and rituals but what resides within our hearts. He declares, “Nothing that enters from the outside can defile a person, but what comes out from within.” This challenges us to examine our inner lives—our thoughts, desires, and words—because these reveal who we truly are before God.
Authenticity in faith involves aligning our hearts with God’s heart so that what flows from us—our words and actions—reflects His goodness and love. Too often, we concentrate on appearances, but God perceives beyond the surface. He calls us to inner transformation, not just external observance.
If our hearts are filled with pride, anger, or selfishness, our words and actions will reflect those emotions. However, if we cultivate love, humility, and mercy, we will radiate God’s goodness. Let us strive for true authenticity, living with pure hearts and lives that glorify God.
