Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 11,2026

Date: Wednesday of the 5^th Week of Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:   Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.

He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus, he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart,come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In today’s gospel, Jesus challenges us as disciples to “hear me” – to listen with our minds and hearts to His call and to His teaching. He also underscores the internal journey of discipleship to holiness by opening ourselves to Him and His transformative love. Jesus is reminding us that we should not focus so much on the externals but rather the internals of our journeys.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What is coming from within me? What are my mind and heart bringing to the world? Am I opening myself to Jesus’ transformative love?

Praying:

LORD,  Almighty Father, we lift our voices in praise of You and offer our thanksgiving for all that is and that You have given to us, most especially, the gift of your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. You sent Him to dwell among us, to take on our human nature in all ways except sin, to reveal your great love for us and to be “the way and the truth and the life.” He showed to us the power of love when he selflessly suffered on the cross of Calvary for love of You and love of us. Send your Spirit to stir within us, to open our minds and hearts more fully to the power of His transformative love. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.