Daily Mass Readings for February 15, 2026

Liturgical Day: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Sirach 15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man's every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Response: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Alleluia: cf. Matthew 11:25

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.

Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

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."

Applying the Readings to Daily Life: A Story and Example

Today's readings focus on free will in choosing good over evil, God's hidden wisdom revealed through the Spirit, and Jesus' call to interior righteousness that fulfills the law beyond mere external observance. The first reading presents life as a choice between fire and water, life and death. The psalm blesses those who follow God's law wholeheartedly. Paul contrasts worldly wisdom with divine mysteries, and the Gospel expands commandments to address the heart—anger as murder, lust as adultery, and integrity in speech.

Picture Kyle, the 35-year-old casino worker from Mesquite, Nevada, navigating the high-stakes environment where quick decisions and temptations abound. Like the choices in Sirach, Kyle often faced forks in the road: bending rules for a big tipper or upholding integrity; harboring resentment toward a demanding boss or seeking reconciliation. One hectic Sunday shift, after a heated argument with a coworker over a scheduling mix-up, Kyle felt the weight of unspoken anger, echoing Jesus' warning about inner murder. Instead of letting it fester, he recalled God's wisdom from prayer that morning and chose to apologize during a break, mending the rift before it escalated. This act not only diffused tension but opened doors to deeper team trust, revealing unexpected "mysteries" like a promotion opportunity. By prioritizing heart-level obedience, Kyle found peace amid the casino's chaos, teaching his kids at home about honest "yes" and "no" in daily promises.

 In a place like Mesquite, with its mix of desert tranquility and gaming buzz, apply these readings by examining your inner choices—where anger, lust, or dishonesty lurk beneath the surface. Like the Alleluia's revelation to the humble, start your day with a quick discernment prayer: "Lord, open my heart to your law." If a conflict arises at work or home, pause and reconcile promptly, as Jesus urges, perhaps by sending a sincere text or chat. For integrity, let your words be straightforward without exaggeration—say "yes" to commitments you can keep, like family time after a shift. This inner fulfillment leads to greater peace and blessings, surpassing superficial rule-following and aligning with God's profound wisdom.