Pastoral Messages
Rights and Responsibilities
As we continue our journey of learning about Catholic Social Teaching, this month our focus is on the principle of Rights and Responsibilities.
This principle teaches us that, because every person, created in the image and likeness of God, possesses inherent dignity, they have fundamental rights that must be respected and protected.
These include the right to life, food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, meaningful work, and religious freedom. These rights are not earned or granted by society; they flow directly from our God-given worth.
At the same time, rights cannot be separated from responsibilities. Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that we are not isolated individuals, but members of families, communities, and a global human family. Therefore, we have responsibilities to respect the rights of others, care for the vulnerable, contribute to the common good, and act with justice and charity in our daily lives. Our responsibilities extend to our families, our workplaces, our parish, our nation, and the wider world.
Living out this principle calls us to both advocate for just structures that protect human rights and to examine our own choices and attitudes. As disciples of Christ, we are invited to promote a society where everyone’s dignity is honored and where love of neighbor guides both our rights and our responsibilities.
For more information, visit the USCCB site here.
Blessings this week,
~Deacon Jim
Scripture
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - February 15, 2026
“I Have Not Come To Abolish But To Fulfill”
Our readings for this Sunday teach us that the “Law of Moses” is not the ultimate law of God, but the beginning. Jesus has come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, to complete it and bring it to perfection.
Our first reading from the prophet Yeshua Ben Sira (Sirach 15:15-20) is a meditation on free will. We are reminded that we are ultimately responsible for our own actions. “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” We are free to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, life and death, but we will be judged by God for our choices. It is always up to us. This is freedom of will.
In our Epistle reading (1Corinthians 2:6-10), St. Paul taught his followers that God's wisdom far surpassed anything their current culture could understand. It was not revealed to “rulers of this age who are passing away”. But "Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard . . What God has prepared for those who love him", through the Spirit.
Our Gospel reading (Matthew (5:17-37) continues with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Two weeks ago, we heard Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes; last Sunday, we heard about salt and light. This Sunday, Jesus teaches us four of what are known as his six antitheses or statements “You have heard it said, but I say to you . . .” Today, Jesus teaches us about the dangers of anger, adultery, divorce and about swearing oaths. His purpose is not to abolish the Law of Moses or the Scriptures, but to fulfill and perfect them. Jesus teaches us that acting on anger and insults are the root cause of violence; that surrendering to or consenting to the disordered desire is a sin against the indissoluble bond that only God can put together. We learn that we should simply speak the truth and not resort to oaths, modifiers or adjectives; simply say what we mean and no more.
Jesus takes the basic law of the Ten Commandments and goes much deeper, to the very heart of the matter. Jesus teaches us that action against God’s will begins in the heart and so we learn that evil thoughts, that we give our consent to, also offend God. Now that we know “God’s wisdom” of which St. Paul speaks in our Epistle reading, we Christians are held accountable to a higher standard. It is our choice! We are responsible for our own behavior. May we choose with the wisdom of God.
Reflect and pray on the full scripture readings for this Sunday at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021526.cfm