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Gospel Reading for February 15, 2026 – Matthew 5: 17-37
A LIFE OF LOVE
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful – causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
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We must always remember that the Commandments of God were given so that we may live A LIFE OF LOVE to its fullest. For us Christians, a life without love is not truly life at all, for we were created to share God’s love with others. If we live only for ourselves and not for those around us, can such an existence truly be called life?
The Law of God is perfect. When God speaks, he says what he means and means what he says. It is not for us to manipulate his word or interpret it according to our personal preferences. In Jesus Christ becoming human, God revealed clearly what he desires and what his commandments truly mean.
When we faithfully follow God’s commandments of love, we—and all those whose lives we touch—experience genuine happiness and lasting peace.
Let us ponder on this song written by the late Fr. Ed Hontiveros, S.J. taken from a poem by St. Therese of Lisieux, ANG MABUHAY SA PAG-IBIG –
Ang mabuhay sa pag-ibig ay pagbibigay
na ’di nagtatantiya ng halaga;
At hindi naghihintay ng kapalit;
Pagbibigay walang pasubali.
Naibigay ko na’ng lahat, magaan akong tumatakbo,
Dukha man ako sa lahat, dukha man ako sa lahat;
Ang tangi kong yaman ay mabuhay sa pag-ibig.
Ang mabuhay sa pag-ibig ay paglalayag
na hantunga’y payapa’t may galak;
Sa maalab na udyok ng pag-ibig
hinahanap kita sa‘king kapwa.
At s’yang tanging tumatanglaw;
Bituin sa aki’y patnubay;
Diwa sa paglalakbay, sandigan, lakas at tibay;
Laging awit ang sagisag, ng mabuhay sa pag-ibig.
Ang mabuhay sa pag-ibig ay maging bihag
sa tawag ng pagmamahal ng Diyos.
Papawiin n’yang lahat ng panimdim;
sa gunita, dahas ay limutin.
Sisidlang putik man ako,
kayamanan ka ng puso ko;
Ang gantimpala ko’y Ikaw,
pag-asang natatanaw.
Ang pumanaw sa sarili ay
mabuhay sa pag-ibig!
