Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2

• First Reading - James 1:12-18: Blessed is the one who endures temptation, for they will receive life's crown from God, who tempts no one but gives every perfect gift and chose us for His own through truth.
• Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 94: Blessed are those taught by the Lord, finding peace in trials. God's steadfast support and comforting presence uplift and guide the honest and the just through life's uncertainties.
• Gospel - Mark 8:14-21: Jesus cautioned his disciples against the influence of the Pharisees and Herod, but they mistakenly thought his warning concerned their lack of bread. Jesus, aware of their misunderstanding, challenged them to remember the miracles of the loaves, questioning their inability to perceive the deeper meaning beyond physical needs, urging them towards greater understanding and faith.

For Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the readings from James and Mark present several interwoven themes that are rich in spiritual and moral teachings:

• Endurance through Temptation: The first reading from James emphasizes the virtue of endurance in the face of temptation, highlighting it as a path to receiving the crown of life promised by God to those who love Him. This theme encourages believers to persevere through trials and temptations, relying on God's strength and the promise of eternal life.
• God's Goodness and Perfection: James also speaks of the intrinsic goodness of God, who gives every perfect gift and does not tempt anyone. This counters any misconceptions about the nature of God and reaffirms His role as the source of all that is good, emphasizing His desire for our welfare and holiness.
• Divine Wisdom and Truth: The epistle further touches on the idea that believers were chosen by God through the truth, to be a kind of first fruits of His creation. This introduces the theme of divine wisdom and truth, which is crucial for understanding and navigating the trials of life, and for recognizing God's hand in our existence.
• Caution against Misunderstanding and Superficiality: In the Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, which can be understood as a caution against hypocrisy, superficial faith, and political ambition. This theme is a call to discernment, urging believers to look beyond surface appearances and seek deeper truths.
• The Importance of Faith and Understanding: Jesus’ challenge to His disciples to remember the miracles of the loaves and to understand their deeper meaning underscores the themes of faith and spiritual understanding. It is a reminder of the need for believers to see beyond their immediate physical needs and concerns, to trust in Jesus’ providence, and to grasp the spiritual lessons He imparts.
• Memory and Reflection in Faith: The Gospel passage also highlights the importance of memory and reflection in the journey of faith. Jesus’ reference to the miracles of the loaves invites the disciples—and, by extension, all believers—to remember God’s past actions as a way to understand His present actions and teachings, fostering a deeper, more trusting faith.

These themes for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 collectively call for a life of faith that is grounded in an understanding of God’s nature and His teachings, characterized by endurance, discernment, and a deep trust in God’s providential care and guidance. They encourage believers to seek beyond the material and the immediate, to understand the spiritual significance of their experiences, and to live in a way that reflects their faith in God’s promises.

In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Mark 8:14-21, we encounter a profound moment of misunderstanding and insight, as Jesus cautions His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Herod." The disciples, preoccupied with their immediate material concerns, misunderstand Jesus’ warning, thinking He speaks of their lack of bread. This moment offers a deep reflection on the nature of faith, understanding, and the dangers of superficiality, themes that resonate with the first reading from James 1:12-18, which speaks of endurance through temptation and the goodness of God who gives every perfect gift.

The juxtaposition of these readings for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 invites us to consider our own spiritual journey. Like the disciples, we are often caught up in the immediate concerns of our lives, the "lack of bread," so to speak. Our anxieties and needs can cloud our understanding of Jesus' teachings and the deeper spiritual truths He seeks to reveal. Jesus’ challenge to remember the miracles of the loaves is a call to faith and a reminder of God’s providential care. It encourages us to look beyond our immediate needs and to trust in God's ability to provide, not just materially but spiritually.

The Gospel’s emphasis on memory and reflection resonates with the message from James, highlighting the importance of enduring faith amidst trials. James reminds us that blessed is the one who endures temptation, for they shall receive the crown of life. This endurance is not a passive waiting but an active trust in God's promise and goodness. It is about seeing beyond the temptation and trials, recognizing them as opportunities for growth and deepening our reliance on God.

The leaven of the Pharisees and Herod symbolizes the corrupting influence of hypocrisy, superficial faith, and worldly concerns that can infiltrate our lives, much like yeast works through dough. Jesus warns us to be vigilant against these influences, urging us to seek a faith that is genuine and rooted in an understanding of God's nature and will. This is where the first reading connects beautifully, emphasizing that God tempts no one but gives every perfect gift. We are reminded that our endurance and faith find their strength in the truth of God’s character and His unchanging goodness.

Reflecting on these passages, we are called to cultivate a deeper, more discerning faith. One that looks beyond the surface, trusts in God’s provision, and seeks to understand the spiritual significance of our daily lives. We are invited to remember the miracles in our own lives, the times when God has provided not just bread, but everything we needed to grow in faith and love. This reflection leads us to a greater understanding and faith, challenging us to perceive the work of God in our lives and to respond with trust and obedience, knowing that in every trial and in every need, God is working for our good, leading us toward the crown of life.

Prayer

Lord, grant us the wisdom to see beyond our immediate needs, the faith to trust in Your providential care, and the discernment to avoid the leaven of superficial faith. Help us remember Your past blessings as we walk in Your truth. Amen.

Word on Fire: Leaven for the World

Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Gospel for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, emphasizing Jesus' call for His disciples to be a transformative leaven in society. He connects this with the Second Vatican Council's universal call to holiness, urging all baptized Christians to influence their secular fields with the holiness cultivated within the Church. Barron highlights the Church's role in fostering a society rooted in love, generosity, and peace. He asserts that such transformation occurs gradually, through faithful individuals living out the Lord's teachings, ultimately impacting the broader society.

What date is Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.

What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The Mass readings for Tuesday February 17, 2026 are:
First Reading  - James 1:12-18: Endurance through Temptation
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 94: Blessed by Divine Guidance
Gospel - Mark 8:14-21: Misunderstanding and Reminder

What is the main theme of the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The main theme is the caution against misunderstanding Jesus’ teachings and the encouragement for greater faith and spiritual understanding, particularly against superficiality and worldly concerns.

How does the First Reading from James connect to the Gospel on Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Both readings emphasize the importance of trust in God: James discusses enduring temptation and recognizing God's perfect gifts, while the Gospel calls for faith beyond material needs.

What lesson can we learn from the disciples’ misunderstanding in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

The lesson is the danger of focusing too much on our immediate, material needs and missing the deeper, spiritual message Jesus is teaching, emphasizing the need for faith and understanding.

Why does Jesus mention the miracles of the loaves in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

Jesus references the miracles to remind the disciples of God’s provision and to challenge them to see beyond physical sustenance towards the spiritual nourishment He provides, urging deeper faith and understanding.

What does the "leaven of the Pharisees and Herod" symbolize in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

It symbolizes the corrupting influence of hypocrisy, superficial faith, and worldly ambition, warning believers to be vigilant and seek a genuine, deep-rooted faith.

How does the First Reading for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 encourage believers facing temptation?

It reassures believers that enduring temptation leads to the crown of life promised by God, emphasizing His goodness and the gifts He provides to those who love Him.

What does "every perfect gift" refer to in the context of James 1:12-18 for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

It refers to the blessings and graces from God, who is the source of all that is good and perfect, encouraging believers to see God's hand in the goodness they experience in life.

How can we apply the message of the Gospel from Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 to our daily lives?

By striving to deepen our understanding of Jesus’ teachings, looking beyond our immediate needs, and cultivating a faith that trusts in God’s greater plan and provision.

What is the significance of being chosen by God "to be a kind of first fruits of His creatures," as mentioned in James for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?

This signifies the special relationship and responsibility believers have as recipients of God’s truth and grace, called to live holy lives that reflect His goodness and serve as examples to the world.