Joyful Gospel Living – February 2026 Reflection

This reflection is on the Scripture readings from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 15, 2026)

Joyful Gospel Living

 “If you choose, you can keep the commandments…”

Over the past several weeks, the 2^nd and 8^th grade students in our parish have been preparing for the sacraments of First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation by participating in the sacrament of reconciliation.  It is a grace-filled time, not only for the students who are in formation, but also for their families.  Even the bulletin board in our church vestibule celebrates this spiritual journey as we look upon the cut-out sheep who are in the gentle care of the Good Shepherd.

During the prayer services before the private confessions, Fr. John (our pastor) proclaimed different Gospel parables to the two groups: the Prodigal Son (8^th grade) and the Good Shepherd (2^nd grade).  In his homilies, Fr. John impressed upon the students how great is the love of God for every person.  Even when we choose to do wrong, God seeks our return with mercy, compassion, kindness, and joy.

For most Catholics, our sacramental preparation required us to learn the Ten Commandments and to understand how they provide us with the framework for our daily lives.  When the Ten Commandments are portrayed as two stone tablets, there are three commandments that refer to the love of God on one stone; the other stone has the seven commandments that direct us to love our neighbor.  In the first reading from the Book of Sirach, there is a wisdom that is shared across all generations: “If you choose, you can keep the commandments; they will save you.”

As human beings made in the Divine image, we are blessed with the gift of free will and intellect.  Through humility, we learn to use these gifts with great love for God and one another.  The word “choose” is significant for us.  The Ten Commandments provide us with a moral framework to build genuine relationships with God and our neighbors.  During the reconciliation services, I always enjoy hearing the communal recitation of the Act of Contrition in which we publicly acknowledge that sometimes our choices are not always loving or the best for our spiritual lives.  God is always waiting for us to come back. ♥

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church provides us with clear teaching about the basics of our faith.  It has four main parts:

• One: The Profession of Faith (the Creed)
• Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
• Three: Life in Christ
• Four: Christian Prayer

https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

Sometimes, it is worth it to spend some time exploring what the Church teaches.  In Part Three of the Catechism (Life in Christ), there are two sections:

1. Man’s Vocation in the Spirit;
2. The Ten Commandments.

Both of these are related to the Scripture readings we have heard in these weeks of Ordinary Time.  Our vocation in the Spirit is to embrace the charity described by the Beatitudes.  They form our actions and our attitudes.  Keeping the commandments then becomes our choice to love God and one another.

Through parish music ministry, I have participated in many reconciliation and sacramental events for our students over the years.  For the second graders, their preparation time includes learning the song “Open My Eyes.”  It is such a simple song, but it is full of a prayerful longing to know God better.

This year, our twin grandchildren (age 14) are receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on March 19^th at Sacred Heart.  The confirmandi had to prepare activity packets to reflect on their formation journey.  Part of the packet required the logging of service hours, with a mapping to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  When we are obedient to God by choosing to do good, we are led by the Holy Spirit to a life of service for others.  It was fun to review the list of service hours with them and to see how they might be fruits of the works of mercy.  Those choices are important to making God’s Kingdom visible now..

Another reflection activity was to think about their favorite story about Jesus and why it made an impression on them.  This was a very personal encounter with Christ.  When all of the responses are submitted, we can only imagine the beauty of the encounters that the confirmandi have had with Jesus as they have prepared to receive the sacrament.  Which of the stories is important to our own lives at this time?

In our parish hymnal (Oregon Catholic Press), there is a song called “Eye Has Not Seen.”  It is based on the epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians that we heard this weekend: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who love Him.  The words to this song express the wonder and mystery of our God at work in our lives.  It beseeches the Holy Spirit to give us the mind of Jesus so that we may learn to love the way that Christ loves.  How that love transforms our world!

Over the next two months, the children in our parish will experience God’s love in the reception of the sacraments of initiation: Confirmation and Eucharist.  Let us share their joy and learn about wonder from them:

“You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

Teresa S. Redder, OFS

Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Minister