The Sunday Readings and Catholic Doctrine for February 2026

The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for February 2026 is made clearest by Catholic doctrine. Doctrines are the essentially unchangeable clarifications of Revelation and Faith that only the pope and bishops have the God-given authority to establish. These must be accepted as true knowledge of reality to be Catholic, and even the pope and bishops may not contradict them.

Let’s learn always-true doctrines in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that we can take away from this February’s Readings.[1]

February 1, The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel are the verses traditionally called the Beatitudes. They fulfill the promises God made to the Chosen People beginning with Abraham by relating those promises no longer to a territorial kingdom like that of David or Solomon, but to the Kingdom of God (CCC 1716[2]). Recall that Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven to refer to the same reality to which the other New Testament writers refer as the Kingdom of God, not to refer to souls without their dead bodies.

Jesus explicitly connects two beatitudes to the Kingdom. In light of CCC 1716, Jesus’ meaning of the other beatitudes is understood if they are connected to the Kingdom: “they will be comforted” in the Kingdom; “they will inherit the land” of the “new earth” in the Kingdom; “they will be satisfied” in the Kingdom; “they will be shown mercy” by being allowed into the Kingdom; “they will see God” in the Kingdom; “they will be called the children of God” because they have been allowed into the Kingdom; “your reward will be great in the heaven” that is, the “new heaven” of the Kingdom.

• From the First Reading[3] (Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13): Zep 2:3 is cited in CCC 64, 711, and 716.
• From the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 1:26-31): 1 Cor 1:27 is cited in CCC 489; and 1 Cor 1:30 in CCC 2813.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12a): Mt 5:1 is cited in CCC 581; Mt 5:3-12 in CCC 1716; Mt 5:3 in CCC 544 and 2546; Mt 5:8 in CCC 1720 and 2518; Mt 5:9 in CCC 2305 and 2330; and Mt 5:11-12 in CCC 520.

February 8, The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Catechism makes clear that when Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world,” “you” is the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church’s “mission is to be salt of the earth and light of the world” in a way that “distinguishes it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found in history” (CCC 782). The difference between the Catholic Church and every other group is that the Catholic Church alone has the fullness of union with Christ and “receives from [Christ] the fullness of the means of salvation which he has willed . . . The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost and will always be so until the day of [Christ’s return]” (CCC 830).

• From the First Reading (Isaiah 58:7-10): Is 58:6-7 is cited in CCC 2447.
• From the Alleluia (John 8:12): Jn 8:12 is cited in CCC 2466.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16): Mt 5:13-16 is cited in CCC 782 and 2821.

February 15, The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus mentions “Gehenna.” Jesus means “’ the unquenchable fire’ reserved for those who, to the end of their lives, refuse to believe and be converted” (CCC 1034).

The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death, the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell . . . The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom man alone can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs (CCC 1035).

Catholic doctrine on Hell is an “urgent call” to conversion and to use our freedom in view of our eternal destiny (CCC 1036). God does not want anyone to spend eternity in Hell (CCC 1037). “We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him” (CCC 1033).

Lust, mentioned in today’s Gospel, “is disordered desire for inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes” (CCC 2351). Every Catholic sexual doctrine flows from the two simultaneous purposes God has given to genital activity: the fully committed love of the husband and wife and their openness to having children (CCC 2366).

When Jesus talks about divorce in today’s Gospel, He insists on “the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble. . . . Between the baptized, a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death” (CCC 2382). When Catholic doctrine and Canon Law on all marriage and sexual issues are understood, we see that they are compassionate and challenging and for our own good.

• From the Alleluia (Matthew 11:25): Mt 11:25 is cited in CCC 153, 544, and 2785.
• From the shorter form of the Gospel (Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37): Mt 5:20 is cited in CCC 2054; Mt 5:21-22 in CCC 2054 and 2257; Mt 5:21 in CCC 2262 and 2302; Mt 5:22-39 in CCC 2262; Mt 5:22 in CCC 678, 1034, and 2302; Mt 5:27-28 in CCC 2330, 2336, and 2380; Mt 5:28 in CCC 1456, 2513, and 2528; Mt 5:33-34 in CCC 581, 2141, and 2153; Mt 5:33 in CCC 592 and 2463; and Mt 5:37 in CCC 2153, 2338, and 2466.
• From the longer form of the Gospel (Matthew 5:17-37): Mt 5:17-19 is cited in CCC 577, 592, and 1967; Mt 5:17 in CCC 2053; Mt 5:23-24 in CCC 2608, 2792, 2841, and 2845; Mt 5:24 in CCC 1424; Mt 5:29-30 in CCC 226; Mt 5:29 in CCC 1034; Mt 5:31-32 in CCC 2382; and Mt 5:32 in CCC 2380.

February 18, Ash Wednesday

Today’s First Reading and Gospel are referenced by the Catechism to teach how they are in harmony: “Jesus’ call to conversion and penance . . . does not aim first at outward works . . . but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion . . .; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance” (CCC 1430). What is the conversion to which Ash Wednesday calls us, and how is it expressed? Conversion is “a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart” (CCC 1431). The more we live our lives in harmony with Catholic doctrine, the more we turn to God and “live in the sight of the Father ‘who sees in secret’” (CCC 1693). Catholic Faith gives us the fullest expression of turning to God in its worship, morality, and prayer (CCC 1692).

• From the First Reading (Joel 2:12-18): Jl 2:12-13 is cited in CCC 1430.
• From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14, 17): Ps 51:6 is cited in CCC 431 and 1850; and Ps 51:12 in CCC 298 and 431.
• From the Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2): 2 Cor 5:20 is cited in CCC 859, 1424, and 1442; 2 Cor 5:21 in CCC 602; and 2 Cor 6:2 in CCC 1041.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18): Mt 6:1-6 is cited in CCC 1430 and 1969; Mt 6:2-4 in CCC 1753 and 2447; Mt 6:2 in CCC 1063; Mt 6:5 in CCC 1063; Mt 6:6 in CCC 1693, 2608, 2655, and 2691; Mt 6:16 in CCC 1063; and Mt 6:18 in CCC 575.

February 22, The First Sunday of Lent

The Catechism uses today’s First Reading to give two crucial sexual doctrines. The first is that man and woman are equally human persons with the same inalienable dignity. The second is that man and woman are different, that “being man” and “being woman” are both “good and willed by God” (CCC 369). The Catechism was promulgated before transgenderism became the issue it is now. The two doctrines above mean that it is not real that there are more genders than the two sexes of male and female. As the Diocese of Des Moines has recently said, “Any response that merely ratifies and reinforces the perceived disconnect between biological sex and gender affiliation is not genuine compassion.”

Today’s First Reading “expresses in symbolic language [that the human person], whole and entire, is therefore willed by God” (CCC 362). “The human body shares in the dignity of ‘the image of God’ . . . because it is animated by a spiritual soul, and it is the whole human person that is intended to become . . . a temple of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 364).

The many paragraphs of the Catechism referencing today’s First Reading and Second Reading can be summarized as follows, keeping in mind that “Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man” (CCC 390):

• The first man and woman were created in a state of holiness and perfect happiness. They were in harmony with God, each other, and the rest of creation. Body, mind, desires, and emotions were in harmony. They were free from suffering and death.
•  All this was lost (the “Fall” happened) when the first man and woman committed the Original Sin, which was wanting to be God’s equal and to be free of God.
• As a result, all the original harmonies have been lost and will only be regained when Christ comes again on the Last Day to fully establish the Kingdom of God.
• Admission to the Kingdom is made possible by Christ’s death on the cross to atone for Original Sin and all personal sins. Admission to the Kingdom is made actual by one’s free choice to love God and neighbor. We best love God and neighbor by being in harmony with Catholic doctrine.

The Devil is mentioned in the First Reading and the Gospel. “Satan or the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan. Their choice against God is definitive. They try to associate man in their revolt against God” (CCC 414). See CCC 391-395 for more on the reality of the Devil and the other demons.

• From the First Reading (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7): Gn 2:7 is cited in CCC 362, 369, and 703; Gn 2:8 in CCC 378; Gn 3:1-5 in CCC 391; Gn 3:1-11 in CCC 397; Gn 3:3 in CCC 1008; Gn 3:5 in CCC 392, 398, 399, and 1850; Gn 3:6 in CCC 2541 and 2847; and Gn 3:7 in CCC 400.
• From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17): Ps 51:6 is cited in CCC 431 and 1850; and Ps 51:12 in CCC 298 and 431.
• From the Second Reading (Romans 5:12-19): Rom 5:12-21 is cited in CCC 388; Rom 5:12 in CCC 400, 402, 602, 612, and 1008; Rom 5:18-19 in CCC 605; Rom 5:18 in CCC 402; and Rom 5:19 in CCC 397, 402, 532, 615, and 623.
• From the Verse before the Gospel (Matthew 4:4b): Mt 4:4 is cited in CCC 2835.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11): Mt 4:1-11:394 is cited in CCC 2849; Mt 4:4 in CCC 2835; Mt 4:10 in CCC 2083 and 2135; and Mt 4:11 in CCC 333.

[1] There are too many citations, or references, in the Catechism to the verses in a month of Sunday Readings to identify all the pertinent doctrines. The bullet points allow you to explore further the Biblical basis of Catholic doctrine.

[2] CCC abbreviates Catechism of the Catholic Church. Any number after it is the number of a paragraph in the Catechism. For example, “CCC 1716” means paragraph 1716 of the Catechism.

[3] If a Reading is not listed, then none of its verses is cited by the CCC.