The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to ponder the power of the habits and security concerns to distract us from actions that rely on faith and Providence to bring us fullness of life.
The Reading from the Book of James presents Temptation and Trial.
* [1:12] Temptation: the Greek word used here is the same one used for “trials” in Jas 1:2. The crown of life: in ancient Palestine, crowns or wreaths of flowers were worn at festive occasions as signs of joy and honor. In the Hellenistic world, wreaths were given as a reward to great statesmen, soldiers, athletes. Life: here means eternal life. He promised: some manuscripts read “God” or “the Lord,” while the best witnesses do not specify the subject of “promised.”
* [1:13–15] It is contrary to what we know of God for God to be the author of human temptation (Jas 1:13). In the commission of a sinful act, one is first beguiled by passion (Jas 1:14), then consent is given, which in turn causes the sinful act. When sin permeates the entire person, it incurs the ultimate penalty of death (Jas 1:15).
* [1:16–18] The author here stresses that God is the source of all good and of good alone, and the evil of temptation does not come from him.
* [1:17] All good giving and every perfect gift may be a proverb written in hexameter. Father of lights: God is here called the Father of the heavenly luminaries, i.e., the stars, sun, and moon that he created (Gn 1:14–18). Unlike orbs moving from nadir to zenith, he never changes or diminishes in brightness.
* [1:18] Acceptance of the gospel message, the word of truth, constitutes new birth (Jn 3:5–6) and makes the recipient the firstfruits (i.e., the cultic offering of the earliest grains, symbolizing the beginning of an abundant harvest) of a new creation; cf. 1 Cor 15:20; Rom 8:23. (James, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 94 is a lament of an individual who is threatened by wicked people.
* [Psalm 94] A lament of an individual who is threatened by wicked people. The danger affects the whole community. Calling upon God as judge (Ps 94:1–2), the Psalm complains about oppression of the holy community by people within (Ps 94:3–7). Bold declarations of faith follow: denunciation of evildoers (Ps 94:8–11) and assurance to the just (Ps 94:12–15). The Psalm continues with further lament (Ps 94:16–19) and ends with strong confidence in God’s response (Ps 94:20–23). (James, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark presents The Leaven of the Pharisees.
* [8:15] The leaven of the Pharisees…of Herod: the corruptive action of leaven (1 Cor 5:6–8; Gal 5:9) was an apt symbol of the evil dispositions both of the Pharisees (Mk 8:11–13; 7:5–13) and of Herod (Mk 6:14–29) toward Jesus. The disciples of Jesus are warned against sharing such rebellious attitudes toward Jesus; cf. Mk 8:17, 21. (Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Margo Minnich comments that the words of James pull our attention away from the illusion of self-sufficiency and reorient our hearts towards God, the true source of all that sustains us. In Ignatian spirituality, this moves us toward the grace of faith as we trust that God will indeed provide and gratitude as we open our eyes to God’s continuous work in our lives.
The miraculous feedings of the crowds were never just about bread and fish. They were signs that God provides for us. We do not need to be dependent on our own limited resources, but on God’s limitless love for us. Jesus calls the disciples and us to remember and trust.
Today, we can prayerfully reflect on where we are experiencing scarcity or insecurity in our lives. Is it a scarcity of time, energy, clarity, or hope? We can remember what “miracles” God has done in our own lives and we can ask God for the gift of faith that He will continue to provide for us. (Minnich, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Heed the truth of the Gospel,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"The apostles are ordered to watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are warned not to be involved in the disputes of the Jews. The works of the law are now to be viewed in the light of faith. They are forewarned that they, into whose time and age the truth had appeared incarnate, should judge nothing except which lies within the position of hope in likeness of the truth that is revealed. They are warned against allowing the doctrine of the Pharisees, who are unaware of Christ, to corrupt the effectiveness of the truth of the gospel." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 16.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 8:14-21 comments that like the disciples, we can focus on our immediate needs and problems, which can keep us from hearing the Lord as he seeks to teach us the eternal truths of his kingdom.
Of course God is concerned about your daily needs. But don’t let them be the only things you bring to him in prayer. Take time to listen to him, to hear him on his terms. Remember: he wants to reveal his heart to you. He wants to share his thoughts with you. He wants to give you his perspective on your life.
So listen for God’s voice today. Even if all you “hear” at first is silence, know that he is present to you. Rest in him; wait on him. Let his word become the bread that sustains you.
“Lord, give me ears to hear your voice.” (Meditation on Mark 8:14-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that James speaks about temptation. It is not sent by God but originates in pride, jealousy, and entitlement. Reflect on God as a parent who gives everything we need. The disciples miss the meaning of the leaven of Pharisees. Jesus is not referring to the bread that they forgot to bring. The teaching of the Pharisee is dangerous because if their teaching is accepted in the smallest way, it may take hold. Friar Jude warns about the leaven, today, of mass media and our need to sort it out to make sure we are on God’s path.
Stephen Copeland recounts how the stories of the desert fathers and mothers have inspired modern Christians to take contemplative practice more seriously. Twentieth-century authors like Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen helped to reclaim the importance of this desert form of Christianity, forging a path for laypeople to experience the transforming way of contemplation, which had long been reserved for monastics and religious.
Richard Rohr writes about why this ancient tradition still matters: “It is a unique window into how Jesus was first understood, before the church became an imperial, highly organized, competitive religion.” [2]
A core principle of the desert—and something worth considering while cultivating our own inner freedom—was the notion of apatheia. Author Laura Swan explains: “Apatheia is purity of heart. The ammas [desert mothers] teach us to intentionally let go of all that keeps us from the single-minded pursuit of God: feelings and thoughts that bind us, cravings and addictions that diminish our sense of worth, and attachments to self-imposed perfectionism. Apatheia is nourished by simplicity grounded in abundance of the soul.” [3]
Such letting go can feel like emptiness. It can feel disorienting, crazy, nonlinear—terrifying even—as if we are like the desert fathers and mothers, leaving behind the comforts of the city for the vast emptiness of the desert. This powerful metaphor invites the disruption of our own unhealthy patterns, as we interrupt the ways that we are being controlled (sometimes unconsciously) by the ways of the world and our false selves to make room for something deeper to be born within us: For aspects of the true self to be discovered. For our awareness of the divine within us to grow. For love to expand. For the same spiritual truths that arose in the desert centuries before to dwell and deepen within our souls. (Copeland, 2025)
We invoke the Spirit to alert us to programs and policies that may be leaven of pride, jealousy, and entitlement tempting us away from the “Bread of Life”.
References
Copeland, S. (2025, March 13). Inner Liberation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inner-liberation/
James, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/1?12
Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?14
Meditation on Mark 8:14-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/16/1500523/
Minnich, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-17-2026
Psalms, PSALM 94 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/94?12
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 17, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
