About Today
Sunday 15 February 2026
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by his hand: come, let us adore him, alleluia.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Other saints: St Claude La Colombière (1641-1682)
15 Feb (where celebrated)
Claude la Colombière (1641-1682) was born in France, joined the Society of Jesus in 1659, and was ordained a priest ten years later. In 1675, he was appointed superior of the Jesuit residence in Paray-le-Monial. There he also became the spiritual director of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, who was missioned by Christ to promote devotion to his Sacred Heart, in collaboration with Colombière. On learning about this mission, Saint Claude, after prayerful discernment, authenticated the supernatural experiences of Margaret Mary, and became both her supporter and a zealous apostle of the devotion. His preaching and writing helped propagate widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1676 he was missioned to be the personal preacher of the Duchess of York. His zeal and the stresses of court intrigue harmed his health, and he began to develop illnesses of the throat and lungs. He was imprisoned as a result of false accusations and deported in 1679. He returned to Lyon, then to Paray-le-Monial, were he died in 1682.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.” But I say to you: Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
Reflection on the contemporary icon
Jesus was a great innovator. He spoke of his ministry as new wine, insisting that new wine needs new wineskins. With that striking image, he made clear that old habits and rigid ways of thinking would not be enough for what God was doing through Him. And yet, Jesus was never dismissive of the past. He was deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition that had shaped him. The Jewish Scriptures nourished his prayer and guided his mission. That is why, in today’s Gospel, he can say with confidence that he has not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to bring them to fulfilment. He was not starting again from nothing, and getting rid of the old. No, he was bringing Israel’s tradition to its next stage.
This balance in Jesus’ approach speaks powerfully to the Church today. We are not called to abandon our tradition, but neither are we meant to freeze it in time. The Church is always in need of renewal, because the new wine of the Holy Spirit keeps being poured out in every age. At the same time, genuine renewal honours tradition and allows the richness of tradition to come to light in new ways. The same is also true in our personal lives: the Holy Spirit does not erase our past, but works through it, building on what is good, healing what is broken, and gently leading us towards new horizons.Old and new always go hand in hand.
Modern icon painting is a good example of how the old and the new can work together in harmony. Iconographers today remain deeply faithful to ancient techniques: painting on wood, working in layers, using traditional materials and approaching the image as a prayer rather than mere decoration. At the same time, contemporary icon painters are not simply copying the past. They speak to the world of today, using new visual language, modern materials, and imagery that resonates with us in 2026. Ivanka Demchuk’s Resurrection, panted in 20218, is a beautiful example of this. Painted in mixed media on wood, the work draws on the ancient icon of the Anastasis, where Christ descends into death to raise humanity to life. We see Christ and his mother at the centre, being pulled up by God. The figures are stylised and flattened, as in traditional icons, yet the composition feels very fresh.
Resurrection,
Painting by Ivanka Demchuk (Ukrainian, 1990–),
Painted in 2018.
Mixed media on wood
© Design for the Church of St. Nicholas, Granada, Spain.
Add to favorites
Read Later
PDF Download
Gospel of 15 February 2026
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets
Matthew 5:17-37
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.” But I say to you: Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.’
Resurrection,
Painting by Ivanka Demchuk (Ukrainian, 1990–),
Painted in 2018.
Mixed media on wood
© Design for the Church of St. Nicholas, Granada, Spain.
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by his hand: come, let us adore him, alleluia.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Other saints: St Claude La Colombière (1641-1682)
15 Feb (where celebrated)
Claude la Colombière (1641-1682) was born in France, joined the Society of Jesus in 1659, and was ordained a priest ten years later. In 1675, he was appointed superior of the Jesuit residence in Paray-le-Monial. There he also became the spiritual director of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, who was missioned by Christ to promote devotion to his Sacred Heart, in collaboration with Colombière. On learning about this mission, Saint Claude, after prayerful discernment, authenticated the supernatural experiences of Margaret Mary, and became both her supporter and a zealous apostle of the devotion. His preaching and writing helped propagate widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1676 he was missioned to be the personal preacher of the Duchess of York. His zeal and the stresses of court intrigue harmed his health, and he began to develop illnesses of the throat and lungs. He was imprisoned as a result of false accusations and deported in 1679. He returned to Lyon, then to Paray-le-Monial, were he died in 1682.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.” But I say to you: Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
Reflection on the contemporary icon
Jesus was a great innovator. He spoke of his ministry as new wine, insisting that new wine needs new wineskins. With that striking image, he made clear that old habits and rigid ways of thinking would not be enough for what God was doing through Him. And yet, Jesus was never dismissive of the past. He was deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition that had shaped him. The Jewish Scriptures nourished his prayer and guided his mission. That is why, in today’s Gospel, he can say with confidence that he has not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to bring them to fulfilment. He was not starting again from nothing, and getting rid of the old. No, he was bringing Israel’s tradition to its next stage.
This balance in Jesus’ approach speaks powerfully to the Church today. We are not called to abandon our tradition, but neither are we meant to freeze it in time. The Church is always in need of renewal, because the new wine of the Holy Spirit keeps being poured out in every age. At the same time, genuine renewal honours tradition and allows the richness of tradition to come to light in new ways. The same is also true in our personal lives: the Holy Spirit does not erase our past, but works through it, building on what is good, healing what is broken, and gently leading us towards new horizons.Old and new always go hand in hand.
Modern icon painting is a good example of how the old and the new can work together in harmony. Iconographers today remain deeply faithful to ancient techniques: painting on wood, working in layers, using traditional materials and approaching the image as a prayer rather than mere decoration. At the same time, contemporary icon painters are not simply copying the past. They speak to the world of today, using new visual language, modern materials, and imagery that resonates with us in 2026. Ivanka Demchuk’s Resurrection, panted in 20218, is a beautiful example of this. Painted in mixed media on wood, the work draws on the ancient icon of the Anastasis, where Christ descends into death to raise humanity to life. We see Christ and his mother at the centre, being pulled up by God. The figures are stylised and flattened, as in traditional icons, yet the composition feels very fresh.
Resurrection,
Painting by Ivanka Demchuk (Ukrainian, 1990–),
Painted in 2018.
Mixed media on wood
© Design for the Church of St. Nicholas, Granada, Spain.
Add to favorites
Read Later
PDF Download
Gospel of 15 February 2026
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets
Matthew 5:17-37
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.” But I say to you: Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.’
Resurrection,
Painting by Ivanka Demchuk (Ukrainian, 1990–),
Painted in 2018.
Mixed media on wood
© Design for the Church of St. Nicholas, Granada, Spain.