In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to look deeper—not only at our actions, but at the movements of our hearts. He reminds us that He has not come to abolish the Law, but to bring it to completion. The commandments are not burdens but pathways to freedom, and Jesus calls us to live them with sincerity, integrity, and love.

The law of the New Covenant is a law that God writes on the heart. The heart is the seat of our motivations, the place from which our words and actions proceed. Jesus this week calls us to train our hearts, to master our passions and emotions. And Jesus demands the full obedience of our hearts. He calls us to love God with all our hearts and to do His will from the heart. God never demands more than what we are capable of doing. That is the message of this week’s First Reading.

He speaks about anger, judgment, reconciliation, and marriage, not as isolated rules but as expressions of a heart aligned with God. Anger, when left unchecked, can harden into resentment. Judgment can fracture relationships. Broken promises can wound deeply. Jesus challenges us to go beyond minimal obedience and to cultivate a heart that seeks peace, forgiveness, and fidelity.

Reconciliation stands at the center of His message. “Leave your gift at the altar,” He says, “and be reconciled with your brother or sister.” True worship begins with a heart at peace. As disciples, we are called to be healers—people who mend, restore, and build up rather than tear down.

This teaching prepares us beautifully for the coming season of Lent, which begins this year on Ash Wednesday, February 18. Lent is a sacred time to examine our hearts, repair what is broken, and return to the Lord with renewed purpose. The ashes placed on our foreheads remind us of our need for God’s mercy and our desire to walk more faithfully in His ways.

As we approach Lent, let us ask: Where do I need healing? Who do I need to forgive? What habits or attitudes keep me from loving as Christ loves?

May this week be a gentle invitation to prepare our hearts—so that when we receive the ashes, we do so with humility, honesty, and hope.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, fulfill Your law of love within my heart. Heal my anger, soften my judgments, and strengthen my commitment to reconciliation and fidelity. As Lent approaches, prepare me to return to You with a renewed spirit. Amen.

Love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley