The Irresistible Draw of Divine Mercy

February 12, 2026 Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Image via Web Gallery of Art Video Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. Mark 7:24–25 The context of today’s Gospel is significant. Jesus traveled to Tyre, in modern-day Lebanon, a Gentile city on the west coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Tyre was an ancient and prosperous city, known for its maritime trade and wealth. As a center of commerce and culture, it played a prominent role in the ancient world but was also frequently associated with idolatry and pagan practices in the Old Testament—practices that often opened the door to increased diabolical influence among its people. By entering Tyre, Jesus symbolically foreshadows the universality of His mission and His intention to invite all people into His Kingdom. Even though we are Christians and members of the Body of Christ, it is important to see ourselves in this woman. In a sense, we are all Gentiles, meaning that as long as we live in this world, we are exiles—tempted by demons and sin, yet longing for freedom and our true home in Heaven. Even though Jesus entered a house in Tyre and “wanted no one to know about it,” this desire set the stage for His encounter with this woman. It was not only a moment of grace for her but also a moment of teaching for His disciples—and for us. First, we read that even though Jesus entered the house secretly, “he could not escape notice.” While He may have gone unnoticed by many in Tyre, this woman recognized Him. She was on a mission, driven by love for her daughter. She did not seek Jesus for selfish reasons but because her heart longed for her daughter’s deliverance from a demon. This reveals the universal and irresistible desire for God’s mercy, present in every soul open to His grace. Additionally, when our hearts are aflame with charity for others, especially family, Jesus’ divine presence will not escape our notice. Charity sharpens our spiritual sensitivity to God’s grace and truth, enabling us to find Him by following the promptings of spiritual love. When the woman pleads with Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter, His response is surprising: “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27). This was not an insult but a truthful and deliberate statement. No one—neither Gentile, Jew, nor Christian—has a right to God’s power and mercy. By expressing this fact, Jesus gave the woman an opportunity to reveal two qualities that are irresistible to Him: faith and humility. Her response, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps” (Mark 7:28), is a beautiful declaration of both. Faith is the recognition of God’s power and goodness, while humility acknowledges that we are unworthy of His mercy. Though it may seem counterintuitive, admitting our unworthiness does not distance us from God—it draws Him closer. A humble heart, devoid of a sense of entitlement, always moves God to pour out His power and grace. Because this Gentile woman manifested both, her daughter was healed. Reflect today on the profound union of faith and humility. First, ponder how deeply you believe that God is the ultimate answer to life. Do you seek Him and His will above every other desire? Secondly, as your faith is purified, examine whether you struggle with an entitlement mindset. Do you approach God with the expectation of His blessings, or do you, like the Syrophoenician woman, humbly acknowledge your unworthiness while trusting fully in His mercy? Pray her beautiful prayer today, and trust that our Lord will irresistibly pour forth His grace upon you. My merciful Lord, with the Syrophoenician woman, I profess my faith in You. Help me to believe that You alone are the answer to every need in my life and in the lives of those I love. With that faith, I also profess my unworthiness. Yet if it be Your will, dear Lord, pour Your grace into my heart and into the hearts of all who seek You. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

He played misery so well, he couldn't tell where the character ended and he began

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He played misery so well, he couldn't tell where the character ended and he began.

He was paid millions to play a miserable man — and couldn't tell where the character ended and he began.

When the creators of House M.D. were casting their lead in 2004, they wanted someone quintessentially American. British actors, they believed, just couldn't pull off the accent convincingly enough. They weren't even considering anyone from overseas.

But thousands of miles away in Namibia, Hugh Laurie was filming a movie and heard about the role. He didn't fly to Los Angeles. He didn't walk into a polished audition room. Instead, he went into his hotel bathroom — the only room with enough light — propped up a camera, grabbed an umbrella to use as a cane, and recorded himself performing two scenes.

He sent the tape in, apologizing for how rough it looked. Executive producer Bryan Singer watched it and was blown away by the performance of this, as he put it, brilliant "American actor." He had no idea Laurie was British.

That tape changed everything.

But the show didn't explode overnight. The pilot drew about seven million viewers — respectable, not earth-shattering. It was over the following seasons that House became a global phenomenon, eventually reaching over 80 million viewers worldwide and making Laurie the most-watched leading man on television according to Guinness World Records.

What nobody saw was the weight of carrying it all.

For eight seasons, Laurie woke at five in the morning for sixteen-hour days on set. He was in nearly every scene. And because the show filmed in Los Angeles while his wife and three children remained in London, he spent nine months of every year six thousand miles from home.

The isolation crept in slowly. Laurie had struggled with depression since his youth — he'd first sought help for it back in 1996, long before House existed. But the pressure of the show deepened everything. He later admitted he had "very, very black days" on set and that the situation often felt overwhelming.

The painful irony wasn't lost on anyone. Here was a man battling his own darkness, being celebrated for portraying a character whose entire identity was built on misery, cynicism, and emotional isolation. The line between Hugh and House grew thinner with each passing season.

He kept his American accent between takes to stay in character. He rode his Triumph Bonneville motorcycle through the streets of Los Angeles in the early mornings — a lifelong passion that became something more during those years. "The feeling of air rushing over your body at high speed," he once said. "You can't help but feel things being swept off you — worries being blown off your body."

But he never walked away. Even as the routine became a conveyor belt, even as the exhaustion mounted, he stayed for all eight seasons and all 177 episodes. Because as hard as it was, it was also the role of a lifetime, and he knew it.

When House finally ended in 2012, Laurie stepped back. He took three years away from Hollywood and turned to his other great love — music. He released two blues albums, toured with a band, and let himself breathe for the first time in nearly a decade. When he returned to acting, it was on his own terms — smaller roles, stranger projects, a Golden Globe-winning turn in The Night Manager.

He didn't disappear. He just stopped running on someone else's clock.

Hugh Laurie once said that playing House was like carrying a beautiful but impossibly heavy stone. You can't put it down because it's too precious. But you also can't pretend it isn't crushing you.

Sometimes the greatest performances come from people who understand the pain they're portraying — not because they're acting, but because they've lived it.

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From Understanding to Intimacy

February 11, 2026 Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Our Lady of Lourdes—Optional Memorial

Image via Adobe Stock Video When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” Mark 7:17–19 We experience varying levels of intimacy in our relationships. Some acquaintances, such as neighbors or colleagues, we only know superficially, while with a spouse, sibling, or close friend, we share a much deeper bond. Yet, even in the most intimate human relationships—such as that of a longtime married couple—we never achieve perfect knowledge of the other person. Similarly, our relationship with Christ must continually deepen. Unlike human relationships, however, God already knows us perfectly—better than we know ourselves. Still, He invites us to grow in knowledge and love of Him as He gradually reveals Himself to us. This ongoing process will continue not only in this life but even in eternity, as we behold the Beatific Vision. In Heaven, our union with God will be ever-expanding, as we enter more deeply into the infinite mystery of His divine presence. In today’s Gospel, Jesus revealed Himself more clearly to His closest companions than He did to the crowds. His self-revelation came by way of an intimate teaching about the “parable” He taught to the people. In this context, Jesus’ parable was not a traditional parable but a short and direct statement that used symbolic language to convey a deeper spiritual truth. He taught the crowd: “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mark 7:14–15). While seemingly straightforward, this teaching is called a parable because it invites contemplation and requires deeper understanding to grasp its full spiritual significance. In this parable, Jesus’ teaching challenged the crowd’s preconceived notions regarding purity and holiness. By addressing the heart as the true source of defilement, He invited His listeners to move beyond mere external observance of the law and to focus instead on the inner disposition of their souls. It’s also important to understand that He taught His close disciples in a more intimate way than He taught the crowds. After teaching the crowds, Jesus and His disciples went “home,” where they questioned Him about the parable. This intimate moment teaches us that personal prayer is our own “home,” where we encounter Christ away from the distractions of the world. It is there that we must approach Him daily with questions—not out of doubt, but from a desire to know Him more deeply. Questions lead to attentive listening, understanding, and intimacy. At the beginning of our relationship with God, He often speaks in more general terms. For those going through an initial conversion, Jesus’ general teachings are life-changing. As we mature in our faith and seek to deepen our relationship with God, we must see ourselves among Jesus’ close companions as they grew in holy intimacy. Doing so requires daily effort and intentionality. Just as a married couple cannot grow closer without meaningful communication, so too must we open our hearts to God each day, speaking honestly and listening attentively to His voice. Without this, our relationship with Him risks remaining superficial. Reflect today on the ways you approach your relationship with Christ. Do you seek Him in the quiet of your personal “home,” asking questions and listening attentively? Consider how you can make your prayer life more intentional, opening your heart to deeper understanding and communion with Him. Just as a loving spouse or a close friend takes time to speak and listen, so too must you dedicate time daily to converse with our Lord, allowing Him to lead you into the depths of His divine wisdom and love. My intimate Lord, You desire to reveal Yourself to me, to draw me into Your presence, and to converse with me more profoundly each day. Grant me the desire to know You, the resolve to listen attentively, and the grace to understand the depths of Your truth. Draw me ever closer, dear Lord, into a loving and intimate relationship with You. Jesus, I trust in You!

Five Health Benefits of Eating Bread

Bread is one of the most ancient forms of prepared foods by human groups. Throughout history, especially after the industrialization of bread making, it has taken a few hits from the health and wellness community, most recently by the low-carb diet and then the gluten-free trend. However, bread is still a staple food in diverse territories, like in the United States, Ethiopia, and the United Kingdom, remaining close to the hearts of many.

Despite the rumors that present bread as evil, people don´t want to give up their “villainous bread”. And you don´t have to either. It is possible to live a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced meal that includes bread.

To begin with, we all know that generalizing is a bad habit. There are so many types of bread around the world. Even though most of them are made from flour, water, and yeast, ingredients and cooking methods are plentiful and vary from one place to another. For example, bread can be made from wheat, chickpeas or potatoes. What is more, bread making is a tradition so highly regarded in France that it is protected by a legislative decree and Paris hosts the most prestigious bakery contest on the planet: The Coupe du Monde de Boulangerie[1] (The Bakery World Cup). If bread is the enemy why would a nation protect it and celebrate it with an international competition?

Secondly, a single loaf of bread is the result of the knowledge, experience, and dedicated work of three valuable individuals: the farmer, the miller, and the baker. Their input directly affects the end product. Hence, it is important to consider all these factors. Starting with the kind of crop; is it a cereal grain, root vegetable or legume? What seed variety is it? How was it grown? Then pay attention to the way it was milled. For example, in order to produce whole meal wheat flour the entire kernel is ground, whereas the bran and germ is removed during the production of white flour. And lastly, what cooking method and oven were used?

The bottom line is that some kinds of bread are nutritious and can actually be good for your health. Apart from being convenient, delicious, versatile, and comforting! So let´s look into what are the health benefits of eating bread!

1. Fiber punch:

Breads made from whole wheat flour, whole grains, seeds, or nuts are packed with dietary fiber; including those whose dough has been artificially added with “functional fibers[2]” such as guar gum[3], inulin, and wheat bran. Dietary fiber constitutes the indigestible plant parts that increase stool bulk, promote regular bowel movements, and support waste elimination. It regulates blood sugar levels, nourishes beneficial gut microflora, and keeps you satiated for longer. It´s consumption has been linked to a lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, overweight, obesity, and gastrointestinal disorders.[4]

2. Prebiotic properties:

Breads high in dietary fiber exert a prebiotic[5] effect encouraging the growth and performance of friendly bacteria colonies in the gut. The intestinal microflora has being intensely studied because changes in gut microbiota composition have been related to essential bodily functions in the host such as immunity, satiety regulation, and body weight gain, amongst others.[6] Feeding your beneficial gut microflora can help you to shed some pounds off and improve your mood and sleep!

In addition, when resistant starch found in starchy fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains is decomposed by the gut flora short-chain fatty acids are produced, fighting inflammation and strengthening the immune response.[7] Whole grain breads containing fruits are a good combo in this instance.

3. Fuel for longer:

Whole grains and legumes contain complex carbohydrates[8]. Breads derived from either of these make for an abundant supply of readily available energy, which translates into a steady flow of glucose into the blood. This fact is important for professional athletes or individuals who are preparing their bodies for any physical activity that requires endurance.

According to the Cleveland Clinic[9], complex carbohydrates stimulate serotonin production and if you eliminate them entirely from your diet you can become really cranky. Doctor Amy Jamieson-Petonic[10], registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic,recommends eating every three to four hours and including complex carbs each time (to feel energized and happy).

4. Folic acid boost:

Fortification is a safe practice where essential vitamins and minerals are added to staple foods such as bread and wheat flour. Many kinds of bread, white bread included, have been fortified with iron, calcium, and some vitamins B. Particularly, in the United States mandatory folic acid fortification of cereal grain products such as refined wheat flour has been established to reduce a woman´s risk of having a baby affected by Spina bifida or other neural tube birth defects.[11] It is estimated that this measure has saved more than 1,300 from neural tube birth defects on a yearly basis.[12]

5. Fight cancer:

The American Institute for Cancer Research[13] includes whole wheat bread and whole grains within the AICR´s Foods that Fight Cancer[14] list published on their site. After years of study they´ve found that dietary fiber and phytochemicals in whole grains hold anti-cancer properties.

Finally, just remember that the recommended amount of grains for an adult in the Healthy Style Eating Pattern[15] (2000 kcal per day) set by the U.S. government is 6 servings per day, of which at least half should be whole grains.

[1] https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/chapter-1/a-closer-look-inside-healthy-eating-patterns/
[1] http://www.europain.com/events/bakery-world-cup
[2] http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/nutrition-exercise/nutrition/just-add-fiber/functional-fibers/
[3] http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-919-guar%20gum.aspx?activeingredientid=919
[4] https://nutritionreviews.oxfordjournals.org/content/67/4/188.full
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20920376
[6] https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/prebiotic-effects-metabolic-and-health-benefits/F644C98393E2B3EB64A562854115D368
[7] https://mrheisenbug.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/why-resistant-starch-prebiotic-fiber-improve-sleep-and-dreaming/
[8] http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/benefits-of-complex-carbs-and-the-best-ones-to-eat/
[9] http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com
[10] http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/food/good-carbs/Pages/this-is-your-brain-on-carbs.aspx
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257747/
[12] http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6401a2.htm?s_cid=mm6401a2_w
[13] http://www.aicr.org
[14] http://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/whole-grains.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.mx/?referrer=http://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/whole-grains.html
[15] https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/chapter-1/a-closer-look-inside-healthy-eating-patterns/

Source: https://grainfoodsfoundation.org/five-health-benefits-of-eating-bread/

Which bread is good for health?

Pawel Landigi

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Lives in Italy Jan 22

Which bread is good for health?

For eight years, I was completely and utterly obsessed with the idea of "healthy, whole wheat bread." I’m talking about the dense, gritty, three bucks a loaf stuff you can only get in the health food stores—isn't this obviously the best possible decision? But, in fact, despite my diligence with my "healthy, whole wheat bread” and my rigorous exercise program, every time I looked in the mirror, I was gaining weight around my middle, feeling as if I were perpetually bloated, with gas pressure building up inside me, finding myself unable to focus enough at my job to do any good, all while simultaneously dealing with pain in my hands and knees, which my physician couldn’t figure out. Yet ever for a moment did it occur to me that my "healthy, whole wheat bread” habit might perchance be part of my problem, inasmuch as whole grains have been touted as the key to good health?

The fact is that most commercial breads, even the health food or whole grain or organic breads, contain ingredients and processing methods that can actually harm your gut, raise your blood sugar levels to heights higher than table sugar, and trigger an inflammation reaction throughout your body. It is true that aside from the bloating and weight gain, commercial breads also come with glyphosate residue from sprayed wheat, added sugars and preservatives, highly processed grains that have been made devoid of any nutritional content and then “fortified” with the intention to mimic nutritional content, and gluten that has been altered in ways that ensure digestion is even more difficult than from 50-year-old breads. It was because of a health encyclopedia found in the Internet that I was able to gain knowledge from the various ways one can choose or even produce their own breads that can benefit the body rather than harming them. This encyclopedia has literally helped me kick my joint pain issues completely, lost 22 pounds, and even got my brain fog to clear in only four months of an account of my changes in eating bread. Now I do not simply grab any loaf that calls itself “whole grain” thinking that it would be healthy. Instead, I have started to ensure that I consume bread that would help rather than hurt my health. This includes searching for sprouted grains in which the grains have already been germinated to lower the amount of antinutrients in it, opted to go for Sourdough bread that would have been fermented for a rather long period of time to help break it down so that it would be easier to digest rather than piled-up blood sugars in my system, gone for bread that would be made of ancient grains such as Einkorn or Spelt that have been less likely to undergo any sort of heavy hybridization, avoided any bread that would have rather long lists of ingredients that would be loaded with preservatives along with sugars.

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Many Bread-lovers Will Die From Diabetes, High Blood Pressure & Chronic Diseases Because They Don’t Know This Info👇👇If You’ve Any Chronic Diseases/Want to Prevent, Read this Healing Encyclopedia By Tapping Here in Blue. It’s Helping Many People Every Day. It’s a gem.

Worship from the Heart

February 10, 2026 Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin Readings for Today Readings for Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Meal in the House of the Pharisee by James Tissot Video “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’” Mark 7:5–8 Isaiah’s prophecy rings as true for us today as it did when Isaiah spoke it and when Jesus quoted it. Worship of God must come from our hearts, from the depths of our beings. Only then is worship authentic. Humans are complex. We are made up of body and soul. Though we have a physical heart, the “heart” Isaiah and Jesus are speaking of is spiritual in nature, essentially the human will. God created us with a free will, meaning we alone are the source of the decisions we make, though our good choices are always assisted by God’s grace. When God speaks to us, revealing His Divine Will, He communicates to us through the use of our intellect. The intellect, enlightened by both natural reason and divine grace, identifies the good we must choose and proposes that good to the will. The will, moved by God’s grace, cooperates in freely choosing it or rejecting it. This cooperation reflects the cooperation between God’s action and our freedom. When we freely choose the good, we open ourselves to the grace of charity which perfects our will. Charity strengthens us and enables us to love with God’s own love, allowing us to live out the divine commandment to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. This alignment of our intellect, will, and actions with God’s will is what makes our worship authentic and our lives holy. This loving worship was absent from the practices of the Pharisees and scribes, whose devotion had become purely external. Their “worship” was steeped in pride, reducing their religious observance to a display of self-righteousness rather than a freely graced expression of love for God. Jesus’ rebuke, however, was not an act of condemnation but one of love. He sought to challenge their hypocrisy, convict their hearts, and call them into an authentic relationship with God rooted in true worship. Their refusal to respond with humility and repentance led many of them to plot against Him, culminating in His Crucifixion. This rejection of divine love reveals that their worship remained vain, as their hearts were closed to the grace that transforms external observance into a living relationship with God. When you reflect on your own external acts of worship, do they flow from a heart fully devoted to God? What motivates you when you attend Mass, recite prayers, or perform works of charity? Is your worship a genuine expression of love for God, or is it sometimes reduced to routine or mere obligation? We would all do well to listen attentively to Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes, examining our own hearts to discern whether we, too, are guilty of falling into externalism or prideful worship. True worship requires humility, sincerity, and an openness to God’s transforming grace, which alone can elevate our external actions into a genuine offering of love. The greatest and purest act of worship is to unite ourselves fully with the sacrifice of Christ in the Holy Mass, offering ourselves—body, mind, and soul—as a living sacrifice to God in loving obedience and complete trust. At Mass, the priest adds a drop of water to the chalice containing the wine. The water and wine are then consecrated into Christ Himself. That one drop of water represents us. Authentic worship will begin with us making that internal offering, united to the external ritual of the Mass, and flow into every other part of our lives. Reflect today on every external act of devotion and charity you perform, especially your participation in the Mass. Listen to Jesus’ loving rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes, and use His words to examine your life. Where weakness, sin, pride, or empty routine are found, seek to replace them with heartfelt worship so that your entire life becomes an offering of authentic love and worship of God. My Lord and my God, You alone are worthy of all my love, all my devotion, and the purity of my worship. Please reveal to me the ways in which my worship lacks authenticity, and grant me the grace to love You freely and wholeheartedly. Purify my heart so that my worship may glorify You and advance Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.