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Feb. 16, 2026
Gospel Reflection: The Mercy of Hollow Sorrow
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Mark 8:11–12
The Pharisees struggled with skepticism, resistance, and trickery, reflecting the tragic reality of hearts closed to grace. They should have been the first to rejoice in the coming of the Messiah but became Jesus’ staunchest critics and persecutors. Their rejection shows how pride and hardness of heart can blind even those who are most familiar with the law and the prophets. As religious leaders, their privileged role heightened their responsibility to recognize and guide others toward the Messiah, making their rejection all the more tragic.
Instead of manifesting hearts open to grace, they demanded another sign, despite the countless signs Jesus had already performed: healings, exorcisms, authoritative teachings, and the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. These works were displays of divine power and fulfilled Messianic prophecies, revealing Jesus as the promised Savior.
Jesus’ authoritative teaching resonated deeply within those with faith. His words and works illuminated their hearts and confirmed His divine identity. The Pharisees’ demand for another sign was not an act of faith but a manifestation of their obstinate resistance to the truth standing before them.
How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees? “He sighed from the depth of his spirit…” This is a holy response. His deep sigh was not driven by anger or pride but by love. To “sigh” is to express holy sorrow: “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:4 RSVCE). Though we must have holy sorrow in the face of every sin—both our own and those of others—the sin that should evoke the deepest sorrow is that which is committed in obstinacy. Obstinacy blinds us to our sins, leading to rationalizations or excuses that prevent us from recognizing our need for repentance. When the sin committed in obstinacy is grave, this leaves a soul in the most pitiable state.
By modeling holy sorrow, Jesus teaches us how we are to react to others who manifest a similar hardness of heart. We should not take it personally. Instead, we must feel the pain of their sin with empathy. Doing so is the most loving response we can make because our holy sorrow becomes a mirror of their souls, inviting them to recognize their spiritual need and turn to God for mercy.
In addition to feeling and expressing holy sorrow, Jesus declares that “no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus is not being stubborn or refusing to provide the necessary revelation that the Pharisees need in order to convert and believe in Him. He is doing the opposite. The Pharisees have already been given everything they need to come to faith in Jesus. By refusing further signs, Jesus was confronting their hardened hearts and inviting them to believe based on the ministry He had already given them. True faith arises from hearts that are receptive to grace.
The fact that Jesus “left them” (Mark 8:13) is another act of mercy. By leaving them, Jesus mirrored the spiritual reality of their souls: God was absent from them due to their hardness of heart. His departure also provided an opportunity for the Pharisees to reflect on their rejection, perhaps planting seeds for future repentance. In leaving them, Jesus respected their freedom to reject Him, even as it grieved His merciful heart. Even in judgment, God’s mercy is always at work, inviting sinners to return to Him.
Reflect today on Jesus’ merciful heart. God’s mercy manifests itself in various ways, depending on our needs. Sometimes, mercy is tender and encouraging, especially when hearts are contrite and humble. At other times, mercy is sorrowful and empathetic, mourning over ours and others’ sins. Seek God’s mercy in your life and then resolve to become an instrument of that mercy to others, in the way that they need it, calling them to repentance and faith.
Most merciful Heart of Jesus, Your compassion is profound and Your empathy deep. Please pour out Your mercy on me, in the way I need it, and use me as an instrument of Your mercy for others. May all people see their sins and, with pure hearts, repent and come to faith in You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Audio recording: https://youtu.be/-1bXJPME60A
Unit Leader: Bro. Dave & Sis. Tess Calces
☺Household Leader: Bro. Daniel & Sis. Dome Magno
Members:
-Bro. Joewey & Sis. Mayang Morales
-Bro. Rodel & Sis. Shirly Saludes
-Bro. Emman & Sis. Joan Leonor
☺Household Leader: Bro. Sonny & Sis. Cora Andal
Members:
-Bro. Bernie & Sis. Lorna Faustino
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Lani Mangalus
-Bro. Randy & Sis. Gina Salma
-Bro. Nonie & Sis. Josie Fajilan
☺Household Leader: Bro. Edmund & Sis. Eve Espiritu
Members:
-Bro. Bart & Sis. Kathy Fallaria
-Bro. Dan & Sis. Tess Tolentino
-Bro. Eric & Sis. Lilian Lingal
☺Household Leader: Bro. Rodel & Sis. Mhang Manuel
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Irene Austria
-Bro. Willy & sis. Milly Lathrop
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Our Activities:
National Shrine of Saint Jude: Legion of Mary Praesidium
MARIA SPES SINENSIUM Members :
- President: Caroline Gozun
SCOPE OF WORK:
Home to home visitation; taking and updating of the parish census; recruitment and follow up of active and auxiliary members; follow up on marriage validation, baptismal, Holy Communion and confirmation cases; hospital visitation; block rosary; participation in various parish and curia activities.
ABOUT:
The Legion of Mary
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbour on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries. The first meeting of the Legion of Mary took place in Myra House, Francis Street, Dublin, Ireland, on 7 September, 1921. This meeting was to have very beneficial consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church and, in a special way, for millions of members of Christ’s lay faithful who would serve in the Legion and for those who would be served by the legionary apostolate. Many persons outside the Catholic Church would also benefit from that apostolate. With the approval and support of the Popes and a great many Bishops, Priests and Religious, as well as the prayers and efforts of legionaries, the Legion, by the grace of God, has grown into a worldwide organisation with several million members.
Drawing its inspiration from the True Devotion to Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, and which had a profound influence on the Founder of the Legion, the Servant of God, Frank Duff, the Legion is at the disposal of the Bishops and Priests for use in the mission of the Church. While essentially a lay association, legionaries look for spiritual and apostolic formation to priests and religious, who, as Legion Spiritual Directors, hold an honoured place in the Legion system. The Legion requires ecclesiastical approval to work in a diocese or parish. Loyalty to the Magisterium and to Ecclesiastical Authority is a basic legionary principle. The Legion aims to bring Mary to the world as the infallible means of winning the world to Jesus and legionary service is based on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ so that in their fellow members and in those they serve, legionaries seek to have the Person of our Lord once again seen and served by Mary, his Mother.
The general and essential means by which the Legion of Mary is to effect its object is personal service acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, having Divine Grace as its moving principle and support, and the glory of God and the salvation of souls as its final end and purpose. Evangelisation, especially the seeking of conversions to the Church, should be a priority for the Legion. Through the visitation of homes and by other means, the Legion must, as a first principle, set out to establish a contact of some sort with every soul everywhere. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalised is another vital part of the legionary apostolate. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.
The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. A parish may have more than one praesidium. To be an active legionary it is necessary to apply for membership in a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates a weekly apostolic task to the members, who generally work in pairs. After a successful period of probation, members are called to make the Legionary Promise (this is only applicable for members over 18 years) which is directed to the Holy Spirit. Realising the necessity for a strong support of prayer, the Legion has Auxiliary members, who associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. The administration of the Legion is carried out through its various councils at local, regional and national level. The central council, the Concilium Legionis Mariae, meets monthly in Dublin.
The Cause for Beatification has been introduced for three legionaries: The Servant of God, Frank Duff (1889-1980), Founder of the Legion, who attended the Second Vatican Council as a Lay Observer; Venerable Edel Quinn (1907-1944), Legion Envoy to East Africa; and the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe (1932-1959), Legion Envoy to South America.