PATHWAYS OF HOPE: “QUIET DRIFT”

TUESDAY, February 10, 2026Tuesday of the 5th week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virginPATHWAYS OF HOPE: “QUIET DRIFT”[GOSPEL OF THE DAY]: MARK 7 : 1 - 13When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalemgathered around Jesus,they observed that some of his disciples ate their mealswith unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,do not eat without carefully washing their hands,keeping the tradition of the elders.And on coming from the marketplacethey do not eat without purifying themselves.And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the eldersbut instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded,"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,as it is written:𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑚𝑒; 𝐼𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑚𝑒, 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠.You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."He went on to say,"How well you have set aside the commandment of Godin order to uphold your tradition!For Moses said,Honor your father and your mother,and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.Yet you say,'If someone says to father or mother,"Any support you might have had from me is qorban"'(meaning, dedicated to God),you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.You nullify the word of Godin favor of your tradition that you have handed on.And you do many such things." Reflection by Eddie Mendoza: Covenanted member and Former Sector Coordinator of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community#POHopgiver #LandasngPagasa #catholic #biblereadings #jesus #catholicchurch #christian #church #faith #god #jesuschrist #love #pray #bible #christianity #prayer #hope #gospel