Sunday, February 15, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters,

In Catholic moral theology, a sinful act is traditionally understood through three essential elements: the object, the intention, and the circumstances. In other words, an act is considered sinful when it is morally wrong in itself, freely chosen with disordered desires, and carried out in circumstances that do not diminish or remove moral responsibility. Among three, personal intention reveals the willingness of the heart and exposes the dis-ordered purpose behind sinful acts. Since intention directs both choices and actions, a bad one can slowly and dangerously reshape the whole person in three specific directions.

First, bad intention corrupts the inner life by turning the heart away from love and truth, undermining interior virtues, confusing the consciences’ ability to recognize right from wrong, and weakening the desire for what is truly good. Second, bad intention dulls sensitivity to sin, leads to harmful choices, fosters disordered habits, and gradually reshapes actions toward wrongdoing. It not only traps the mind in temporary satisfaction, mate-rial expectations, and personal pleasure, but also encourages repeated decisions that bind a person to destruc-tive patterns and diminish true freedom. Third, bad intention damages relationships and draws people away from God. It not only allows the heart to justify sin through excuses rooted in dishonesty and unkind motives, but also weakens spiritual life, diminishes hope, closes the heart to conversion, and removes the guidance nec-essary for human salvation.

Therefore, in this weekend’s Gospel passage, Jesus calls us to examine not only what we do, but also why we do it and what we allow to dwell in our hearts. He reminds us that faith is not about minimal compliance, but about our sincere willingness and wholehearted conversion to live through Him, with Him, and in Him. He also teaches that outward righteousness and good deeds must flow from loving intentions that reflect our sa-cred dignity within the mercy of God. For this reason, we are called to choose honesty over, faithfulness over desire, peace over pride, and eternal reward over material possessions, so that we may be freed from harmful influences, evil temptations, and the disordered desires around us and within us.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.