Following in the Footsteps of God our Lord in Word and Deed

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 15, 2026

Readings: Sirach 15:15–20; Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 17–18, 33–34; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37

Can we solve the problems of this world by rules and regulations, laws and judiciary, police or army? Absolutely not. We can solve the problems in our society through good, value based educaton. Even the value-based education might not be the perfect answer. Probably, having the right mind and good value-based nurturing of men and women of this world might, to a great extent, help to take evil out of this world. There are so many men and women of great integrity who have shown the path of righteousness, truth, equality and justice. Jesus, being one of them, confronts his Jewish community to follow the right path. So that peace and harmony are established.  

1. Jesus disturbs our moral apathy

In today’s Gospel Matthew 5:17–37, Jesus stands before us not as one who abolishes the Law, but as one who brings it to fulfillment. He does not weaken moral demands; He deepens them. He does not settle for external compliance; He calls for interior transformation. “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” With these words, Jesus moves the conversation from behaviour to the heart. It is not enough that we avoid murder; we must uproot anger. It is not enough that we avoid adultery; we must purify desire. It is not enough that we speak truth under oath; our very word must be truthful. Jesus is not merely reforming rules—He is reshaping the human person.

The Gospel unsettles us, perhaps disturbs us because it removes the comfort of minimalism. We often live by the logic of “at least I did not…” Jesus invites us into the greater logic of love: “Become what you are called to be.” Holiness is not about avoiding the worst; it is about choosing the best. It is not about staying within boundaries; it is about allowing grace to transform the inner landscape.

2. Jesus catch holds of our behaviour

The words of Jesus are straight and to the point. There is no wavering or may be or may be not, etc. He enters into the heart of human behaviour. Perhaps Jesus was a good psychologist. Anger, lust, falsehood—these are not simply actions; they are dispositions of the heart. And the heart, in biblical understanding, is the center of our decisions, desires, and identity. Jesus knows that unless the heart is healed, behaviour will always betray us. The law written on stone must now be written in flesh.

This passage also reveals something demanding yet beautiful: discipleship is radical because love is radical. Reconciliation takes precedence over ritual. Before approaching the altar, Jesus says, go and reconcile with your brother. Worship without relationship is incomplete. The Eucharistic offering cannot be separated from fraternal communion.

3. For Jesus, truth is not negotiated

In a world that often negotiates morality and relativizes truth, Jesus asks for integrity. “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” Simplicity of speech flows from purity of heart. When our inner world is attuned with God, our words become transparent, our relationships authentic. There are no negotiations over the universal truths. There is no place for diplomacy when it comes to truth. 

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to examine not merely our actions but our motivations. Where does resentment linger? Where does desire distort dignity? Where does convenience dilute truth? Jesus does not condemn; He calls us higher. He trusts that grace can accomplish what human effort alone cannot. To follow Christ is to allow Him to enter the hidden places of the heart. It is there that the true battle of discipleship is fought. And it is there that transformation begins.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Is there anger, resentment, or bitterness in my heart toward someone that I need to acknowledge and reconcile?
2. Do my thoughts and intentions reflect purity and respect for the dignity of others?
3. Have I separated my acts of worship from my relationships? 

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You who came not to abolish but to fulfill, write Your law upon our hearts. Cleanse us of hidden anger, quiet our restless desires, and make our words truthful and pure. Where we have settled for the minimum, call us higher; where we have wounded others, give us the courage to reconcile; where our hearts are divided, unite us in love. Transform us from within, that our worship may be sincere and our lives may reflect Your holiness. Grant us the grace to live with integrity, simplicity, and compassion, so that in all things we may become faithful disciples of Your Kingdom. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

12 February 2026