Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 14, 2026

14th February 2026 (Saturday)

Psalter: Week 1

Readings of the Day

First Reading: 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34

In those days: Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

Psalm 106:6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22

R/. O Lord, remember me with the favour you show to your people

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Saturday – Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Main Point: FEAR causes us to build walls and idols, and as love breaks bread and builds bridges. We have to choose between religion of convenience and a compassionate relationship.

1. In the first reading King Jeroboam makes a horrible blunder out of pure fear. He is afraid that if his people go to Jerusalem to worship, they will turn against him and kill him. He is insecure with his job and his life.

2. So, he creates a “convenient” religion. He constructs two golden bulls and says to the people: You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel.” He attempts to make faith easy so that he can retain his power. He substitutes a lifeless idol for the true God just to feel safe.

3. How often do we do this? We create “golden calves” of comforts. We all say “I don’t have to go to Mass, I can pray in my bed.” We say, that “God knows my heart and I don’t need to confess.” We try to make religion convenient so that it doesn’t disrupt our life.

4. In the Gospel we get a completely different scene. Jesus is in the desert with a very large number of people. They have been with Him for the three days. It was not convenient. They were hungry, tired and far from home. But they did remain because they saw an answer to reality in Jesus.

5. Jesus looks at them and says “I have compassion on the crowd.” He does not send them to offend them. He doesn’t say, “Not my problem.” He is worried that they might “faint on the way.” He cared for their physical hunger, not only their souls.

6. Jeroboam did what he did because of self-preservation; Jesus did what he did because of self-giving. Jeroboam had a counterfeit god in order to gain control; Jesus had bread from heaven to give life.

7. The disciples observed the seven loaves and saw that they had too little. Seven loaves he saw as the feast, Jesus saw. As Jeroboam did it because he tried to control everything he did for fear, he is learning a lesson: when you cannot control everything because of being afraid and show our trust in God’s compassion, even a little bit of bread will suffice.

My Practice: Am I seeking a “shortcut” in my faith because it is easier or am I willing to stay in the “desert” with Jesus and trust that He will give me what I need?