--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for February 19, 2016 description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/19/daily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for February 19, 2016 Feb 19, 2016 5:30:08 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 5, 20-26](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021916.cfm) - Day of Abstinence*** Jesus is challenging our concept of sin today. Throughout Matthew 5 we hear about how sin goes beyond just committing physical acts that harm ourselves or others. Sin also includes our attitudes and thoughts as well, which can be much more difficult to master. Jesus’ challenge reminds me of all of the times I’ve been angry at someone: When I was angry at my boss or a close friend’s boss at work who made life difficult for them. When I was angry at a roommate for leaving a mess, or for giving me a hard time for not being generous to them. When I was angry at my parents as a child when they made me do something I didn’t want to do. But Jesus is not trying to make us feel awful about the times when we got mad. He wants to stress the importance of seeking forgiveness. “Go first and be reconciled.” There is a reason Jesus says this needs to be done before bringing a gift to the altar. A lack of forgiveness hurts our relationship with God and with each other. That’s why we as Catholics are encouraged to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as often as possible - it helps our relationships with him and with the other people in our lives. None of us are perfect enough to enter the kingdom of heaven by our own merits. It is God’s grace and forgiveness that gets us there, which we receive simply by asking for it. Jesus’ instruction to ask forgiveness from your brother before he hands you over to the judge applies when we need to ask another person for forgiveness, but also when we need to ask God for forgiveness and when we need to ask ourselves for forgiveness too. ### Ponder: Who do I need to ask for forgiveness from? Who do I need to forgive for wronging me, either by talking to them or simply forgiving them in my own heart? ### Pray: Lord, help me to avoid anger towards those who frustrate me, and ask for forgiveness from them when I act out on that anger. Help me to love like you do and always see the good in those around me.   *Copyright 2016 Alex Johannigman* Alex Johannigman is a business analyst by day, theology graduate student by night, youth minister on the weekends, and blogger at [All That Catholic Jazz](http://thatcatholicjazz.com/) when he should be sleeping. He developed a love for the homeless after serving as a missionary with [Christ in the City](http://www.christinthecity.co/) and he enjoys teaching about St. John Paul II’s [Theology of the Body](http://tobet.org/). ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F19%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F19%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F19%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20February%2019%2C%202016) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F19%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F19%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-19-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for May 28, 2016 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/28/101797) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for March 10, 2016 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/10/daily-gospel-reflection-march-10-2016) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for July 10, 2016 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/07/10/daily-gospel-reflection-july-10-2016) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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