February 23, 2026 // Monday of the First Week of Lent // Optional Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 25:31-47

Reflect on the Word //

I can’t tell you how many times I start Lent with some elaborate system of sacrifices. Special fasts, no screen time, changing everything around all at once. Too often I find myself blindsided by what I simply cannot accomplish, and too often my family finds themselves blindsided by the Lenten sacrifices I have volunteered them for. I’m left feeling a little unmoored. Do I know why I decided to do all this to begin with? Have I even gotten to the heart of it? Activism is an easy thing to fall into—the art of “doing.” Without even realizing it, we can become task oriented, we can be obsessed with checking the box, and we can lose sight of the simplicity of what Jesus is asking of us: “Amen, whatever you did for the least of these brothers you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40).

Whatever you did. 

In today's Gospel (Matthew 25:31-37), it’s so clear that Jesus is not looking so much at what we do but why we do it. Of course what we do matters, but it is the heart behind our actions that matters even more. He desires us to be motivated by love, and the deepest Love at that. We must strive to do all things for Love because of Love itself. 

It’s good to get back to the drawing board, sometimes even at the very start. As we pray with the Gospel for today, we can look at this Lent and whatever we’ve decided to take on, and purify our intentions. Even if our sacrifices look smaller, less flashy, maybe even unnoticed. Perhaps this is a better way for us? Perhaps it’s the closer path to the heart of Christ? Our crosses may be small and insignificant, but it is the least of these that He is after. 

Relate to the Lord // How can you inject more love into your Lenten penances today?