Gospel Reflection – January 20, 2026

For Jesus, the important thing isn’t “Religion” itself—the rituals, the rules, or the worship—but the well-being of the person. This confused and scandalized some people, but for others—the poor, the helpless, the sinners—it woke up hope. It helps them to truly live and to hold their heads high.

A “religion based on rules” gives us a sense of safety, but it is far from the Spirit of Jesus. He doesn’t want His friends to be perfect rule-keepers, but humble, authentic followers. Jesus wants to lead everything back to God.

For Jesus, the good of the person is above any tradition, law, or institution. It must favor our journey toward human fulfillment, not toward exclusion.

Jesus shows us that the God to whom the Sabbath is dedicated is a compassionate and merciful God. God doesn’t need to make us suffer or impose laws upon us. He wants to do us good. If we want to act like Jesus, we cannot dedicate ourselves to persecuting others. Let us “never grow tired of doing good.”