Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday February 21st 2026

 

The First Reading : (Isaiah 58:9–14).

The Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 86).

Response: Teach me, O Lord, your way, so that I may walk in your truth.

The Gospel: (Luke 5:27–32).

At that time, Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he left everything, rose, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them.

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Homily:

On this fourth day of Lent, the Church reminds us that God is always ready to give us opportunities to repent of our sins and return to him.

The great message of Lent is repentance:

Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Turn away from sinful ways.
Return to God, who is always ready to welcome us back.

God does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that they turn from their evil ways and live.

This message was central to the preaching of John the Baptist:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is close at hand.”

It was also at the heart of Jesus’ proclamation:

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Luke 5:32)
“It is the sick who need the doctor, not the well.” (Matthew 9:12)

If you, O Lord, were to mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is forgiveness.

Jesus constantly gave sinners opportunities to repent. He ate with them. He forgave them.

Remember Zacchaeus the tax collector.
Remember the woman caught in adultery.
Remember the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.

Jesus was never focused on the sinner’s past, but on their future- the saint they could become.

In today’s Gospel, he calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector- a public sinner. Tax collectors were despised because many abused their position, taking more than required. Yet Jesus called him.

When Jesus said, “Follow me,” he was saying:

“Matthew, I know your past, but I see your potential. I am not concerned about your yesterday. I am concerned about your tomorrow.”

Matthew accepted the invitation.
The sinner became a saint.
The tax collector became a Gospel writer.

My friends,

During this Lent, God is extending the same invitation to us:

“Follow me.”

What must we do?

Like Matthew, we must leave behind our past.
Matthew left everything- meaning he left behind his old life.

One powerful way to respond is through the Sacrament of Confession.

Make use of Confession this Lent.
Seek forgiveness.
Make the effort not to return to sin.

Sometimes, sadly, we make others feel unworthy of coming to church.

I once spoke with a Christian who told me:

“Father, I feel terrible coming to church because I am a great sinner. If I come to church, the church will catch fire.”

But God is not worried about our past. He is concerned about our conversion.

Jesus came for sinners.

Where else should sinners go if not to God’s house?

The Church is not a museum for saints.
The Church is a hospital for sinners.

Let us therefore be careful with our words, so that we do not discourage others from seeking God’s mercy.

And when we come to church as sinners, let us come sincerely -not to hide our sins, but to seek transformation.

Do not let your sins scare you.
Do not let your past define you.

God is not finished with you.

He is concerned about the saint you can become.

Like the father of the prodigal son, God’s arms remain open.

So let us find the courage of Matthew and say:

“Yes, Lord. I will follow you. I will leave behind my yesterday and embrace the new tomorrow you offer.”

Amen.

Chevrolet Silverado 2025

 

The Brown Bear and Salmon

A Brief Piece on Bears and Salmon

Bears have a natural tendency to load up on salmon and gain fat by design. This built-in storage prepares them for winter, when food becomes scarce. The accumulated fat helps preserve energy and maintain body warmth during the colder months.

When a brown bear catches a salmon, it typically begins by eating the skin, then the brain, and sometimes the eggs. After consuming these high-energy parts, the bear often leaves the remainder of the fish and returns to the river to catch another. On average, brown bears abandon roughly half of the salmon they capture each year.

Although this behavior may appear wasteful, it is actually efficient. Obtaining food is not limited to catching it; it also involves processing, consuming, and digesting it. During the salmon spawning season, fish are abundant. In this context, eating an entire salmon is not always worth the time and metabolic effort required for digestion.

Brown bears therefore prioritize the most nutrient-dense components, skin, brain, and eggs, which provide the highest fat and energy return for the least effort. The remaining portions, which contain comparatively less fat, offer diminishing returns.

Importantly, what is left behind supports the ecosystem. The carcasses provide nutrients for birds, fish, insects, and plants, contributing to a broader cycle of energy transfer within the environment.

Next time you eat salmon, like I did today, you might think about this. Who knows -you may have more in common with the brown bear than you realize.

Stay curious.

-Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for Friday February 20th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 58:1–9)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 51)

"Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned".

Alleluia:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Seek good and not evil, so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Gospel: (Matthew 9:14–15)

Reflection: 

The mass readings reflects on the true meaning of Lenten fasting. The lesson drawn is that Lenten sacrifices should not become burdens placed on others, but should transform the heart. We shouldn't just fast because everyone is doing it or the Church asked us to. 

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that fasting is not about outward displays of suffering but about conversion expressed through love: freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for those in need. Lenten practices are meant to move us away from self-focus and toward deeper union with God.

Fasting is not meant to be spiritual performance or quiet self-pity, but a path to freedom, freedom from disordered attachments, from ego, and from the illusion that worldly comforts bring lasting happiness. Prayer, almsgiving, and sacrifice help us recognize Christ present in the Eucharist, in prayer, and in the poor.

When practiced with sincerity, Lent reshapes our relationship with both God and the world. It prepares us to rejoice authentically at Easter, having learned to desire not merely earthly satisfactions but the enduring joy found in communion with the Bridegroom.

Amen

Have a blessed weekend. 

@Ava: She is at the Collison Shop

 

Blood Transfusions: A Clinical Education

What Is a Blood Transfusion?

A blood transfusion is the administration of blood or blood components (most commonly packed red blood cells – PRBCs) through venous access to a patient who has low red blood cell levels.

Purpose:
To restore oxygen-carrying capacity and improve tissue perfusion.

Why Do Patients Need Blood Transfusions?

1. Blood Loss

• Surgery

• Trauma

• Gastrointestinal bleeding

• Internal hemorrhage

2. Decreased RBC Production

• Severe anemia

• Renal failure (↓ erythropoietin)

• Bone marrow disorders

• Cancer / chemotherapy

Why Are Red Blood Cells Important?

Red blood cells (RBCs), via hemoglobin, perform two critical functions:

✔ Carry oxygen (O₂) from lungs → tissues
✔ Remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from tissues → lungs

Signs & Symptoms of Low Hemoglobin

• Pallor

• Fatigue / weakness

• Shortness of breath

• Tachycardia

• Dizziness

Hemoglobin Values

Patient	Normal Range
Male	14–18 g/dL
Female	12–16 g/dL

Transfusion Threshold (general guideline):
≈ 7–8 g/dL (depends on patient condition & protocols)

Nurse’s Role in Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a high-risk procedure requiring strict adherence to policy.

1. Preparation Phase

Type & Crossmatch

• Correct patient identification is critical

• Prevents hemolytic reactions

• Clerical errors = most common cause of reactions

Verify Blood Compatibility

Universal Donor: O negative
Universal Recipient: AB positive

Obtain Informed Consent

Nurse responsibilities:

✔ Explain procedure
✔ Assess understanding
✔ Ask about:

• Previous transfusions

• History of reactions

• Allergies

Premedication (if ordered)

May include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Used for patients with prior febrile/allergic reactions.

Assess Fluid Status

High-risk patients:

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

• Renal failure

• Fluid overload

Possible order:

• Loop diuretic (e.g., furosemide/Lasix)

Ensure IV Access

Preferred:

✔ 18-gauge or larger

Why?

• Prevent RBC damage (hemolysis)

• Allows proper flow

Consider:

✔ Second IV site for medications

Gather Supplies

• Y-tubing with inline filter

• 0.9% Normal Saline (NS)

• Infusion pump

• Biohazard disposal bag

Important Rule

🚨 ONLY 0.9% Normal Saline with Blood

❌ No dextrose (causes RBC clumping)
❌ No medications

2. Blood Administration Phase

Timing Rules

✔ Start within 20–30 minutes of receiving blood
✔ Complete within 2–4 hours
✔ NEVER exceed 4 hours

Reason:

Risk of bacterial growth → sepsis

Blood Warmers

Used when:

• Rapid / massive transfusion

• Hypothermia risk

Two-Nurse Verification

Check together:

✔ Physician order
✔ Patient ID
✔ Blood unit number
✔ ABO & Rh compatibility
✔ Expiration date
✔ Blood appearance (no clots/leaks)

Baseline Vital Signs

• Temperature

• Blood pressure

• Heart rate

• Respirations

🚨 Report fever before starting

Educate Patient

Report immediately:

• Chills

• Itching / rash

• Chest or back pain

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

Starting the Transfusion

✔ Begin slowly (~2 mL/min)
✔ Stay with patient first 15 minutes

Why?

Most reactions occur early.

Vital Sign Monitoring (varies by policy)

Common practice:

• Baseline

• 5 minutes

• 15 minutes

• 30 minutes

• Hourly

• Post-transfusion

Transfusion Reactions

Mnemonic: “REACTION”

Letter	Symptom
R	Rash
E	Elevated temperature
A	Ache (back/chest/head)
C	Chills
T	Tachycardia
I	Increased respirations
O	Oliguria
N	Nausea

Types of Reactions

1. Hemolytic (Most Dangerous)

Cause:

ABO incompatibility

Signs:

• Fever

• Chills

• Back pain

• Chest pain

• Hypotension

• Hemoglobinuria

Complications:

🚨 DIC
🚨 Renal failure
🚨 Death

2. Allergic

Cause:

Reaction to donor plasma proteins

Signs:

• Hives

• Rash

• Itching

• Wheezing

• Possible anaphylaxis

3. Febrile Non-Hemolytic (Most Common)

Cause:

Recipient antibodies vs donor WBCs

Signs:

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache

Prevention:

Premedication (if indicated)

4. GVHD (Rare but Fatal)

Onset:

Days to weeks later

Signs:

• Fever

• Widespread rash

• Diarrhea

• Liver dysfunction

5. Circulatory Overload (TACO)

High-risk:

• CHF

• Renal failure

Signs:

• Dyspnea

• Crackles

• Hypertension

• JVD

6. Septic Reaction

Cause:

Contaminated blood

Signs:

• High fever

• Chills

• Hypotension

If a Transfusion Reaction Occurs

Immediate Actions

✔ STOP transfusion
✔ Keep vein open with new tubing + NS
✔ Stay with patient
✔ Monitor vitals frequently
✔ Notify provider & blood bank

Do NOT Discard

✔ Blood bag
✔ Tubing

Send to blood bank for investigation.

Possible Treatments (Provider Orders)

• Antihistamines

• Antipyretics

• Corticosteroids

• IV fluids

• Vasopressors

• Diuretics

Labs May Include

• CBC

• Renal function

• Electrolytes

• Coagulation studies

• Urinalysis (hemoglobinuria)

Documentation

Record:

✔ Time of reaction
✔ Symptoms
✔ Interventions
✔ Provider notifications
✔ Patient response

Post-Transfusion Care:

✔ Flush line with NS
✔ Dispose per biohazard policy
✔ Obtain post-transfusion vitals
✔ Reassess patient

A Quote from Mr. D. Washington

 

“Mr. Peace President ” and the Prospect of War with Iran

War Is Always the Enemy of the Poor

Recent remarks delivered at the United States Institute of Peace painted a striking contrast: the language of peace set alongside vivid references to military power, including United States Air Force B-2 bombers and operations involving Iran. The speech celebrated diplomacy, invoked “peace in the Middle East,” and highlighted multi-billion-dollar relief commitments-yet it also suggested that further escalation “may” be necessary.

That tension reflects a deeper and enduring truth:

War, whatever its justification, falls heaviest on the poor.

The Rhetoric of Peace vs. the Logic of War

Political leaders often speak of peace as both a moral aim and a strategic achievement. In this case, “border peace,” regional stabilization, and the pursuit of a “meaningful deal” with Iran were presented as parallel tracks to deterrence and force.

But peace and war are not simply interchangeable tools.
They operate on profoundly different logics:

• Peace seeks stability through trust, compromise, and long-term cooperation

• War imposes outcomes through destruction, coercion, and human cost

Invoking both in the same breath exposes the fragile boundary between diplomacy and conflict.

Who Pays the Price of War?

Wars are financed by nations but paid for by people- especially those with the fewest resources.

1️⃣ Economic Burden

Military escalation brings:

• Surging public expenditure

• Inflationary pressures

• Disrupted trade and markets

For low-income households, this translates into:

• Higher food and energy prices

• Reduced social spending

• Greater financial insecurity

2️⃣ Humanitarian Consequences

Modern warfare disproportionately harms civilians:

• Displacement

• Infrastructure collapse

• Medical shortages

• Food insecurity

The poorest communities lack buffers, mobility, and protection.

3️⃣ Global Ripple Effects

Conflict involving Iran could affect:

• Energy markets

• Supply chains

• Regional stability

Economic shocks reverberate worldwide, often intensifying poverty far beyond the battlefield.

The Illusion of “Limited” War

History repeatedly shows that wars framed as “targeted” or “necessary steps” tend to expand unpredictably.

Escalation dynamics include:

• Retaliation cycles

• Proxy conflicts

• Regional destabilization

• Long-term geopolitical fallout

What begins as a calculated move can become an enduring crisis.

Peace as Action, Not Branding

The speech emphasized that this initiative is “very little talk, all action.” That aspiration resonates. Yet genuine peace is not measured by declarations alone.

It requires:

• Persistent diplomacy

• Economic justice

• Humanitarian investment

• De-escalation mechanisms

• Respect for civilian life

Peace cannot be built solely on deterrence or displays of force.

The Moral Dimension

Beyond strategy lies an ethical question:

Can peace be secured through instruments of war without reproducing the very suffering it claims to end?

Military action may sometimes be argued as necessary. But its consequences are never abstract:

• Children orphaned

• Families displaced

• Economies shattered

• Generations burdened

And always, the poor suffer most.

A Sobering Reminder

Ten billion dollars was described as “a very small number compared to the cost of war.” That comparison is revealing.

Because the true cost of war is not merely financial.

It is measured in:

• Lives lost

• Bodies broken

• Futures erased

• Societies destabilized

Conclusion

Peace is not proven by the absence of fighting alone, nor by the prestige of a boardroom gathering. It is proven by the preservation of life, dignity, and stability-especially for the most vulnerable.

As tensions rise and rhetoric sharpens, one principle remains constant:

War is always the enemy of the poor.

And peace, if it is to mean anything at all, must first protect those who have the least power to survive conflict.

A Lenten Exhortation: Remember You Are Dust

Dear friends, 

Today is the first Thursday of lent, we officially began this beautiful journey of Lent. This sacred pilgrimage of forty days is not merely a season on the calendar; it is a grace-filled invitation to draw nearer to Christ, to walk with Him into the desert, and to allow our hearts to be transformed.

And as we began this journey, the Church asks us to contemplate something we often avoid. Ashes will be placed upon our heads, and we will hear the solemn words:

“Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

So simple. So ancient. So unsettling.

Yet within those words lies not despair, but truth, and within truth, mercy.

Dust and Glory

To remember that we are dust is to remember our creatureliness. We are not self-made. We are not eternal by nature. We are formed by God, sustained by God, and destined for God.

“Dust” speaks of humility.
“Return” speaks of accountability.

But neither word is meant to crush the human spirit. Rather, they awaken us. For the same God who formed Adam from the dust also breathed into him the breath of life. We are dust, yes, but dust beloved by God.

Lent, therefore, is not a season of gloom. It is a season of clarity.

“Rend Your Hearts”

In the first reading, the prophet Joel cries out:

“Return to me with your whole heart… Rend your hearts, not your garments.”

The call is not to external performance, but to interior conversion.

To rend the heart is to tear open whatever has hardened within us:

• Our complacency

• Our hidden sins

• Our quiet compromises

• Our comfortable distance from God

The first grace of Lent is honesty.

To stand before God and say:

“I am a sinner. I fall. I wander. I fail. And yet… I am loved.”

Here lies the paradox of the Gospel:
We are unworthy, and still relentlessly loved.

And because we are loved, we are summoned into battle. Lent is not passive reflection. It is spiritual warfare. Like Christ in the desert, we confront temptation, illusion, and the subtle voice of the enemy.

Repentance is not weakness.
Repentance is courage.

Ambassadors of Christ

In the second reading from yesterday, Saint Paul speaks with urgency:

“We are ambassadors for Christ.”

An ambassador does not represent himself. He represents the one who sends him.

And we are sent by Christ.

This means our Lenten conversion is never private. Christianity is not “me and Jesus” in isolation. To belong to Christ is to become a visible sign of His presence in the world.

We are called to bring Jesus everywhere:

• To the supermarket

• To the workplace

• To our families

• To our conversations

• To the hidden corners of ordinary life

People should be able to look at us, ashes or no ashes, and glimpse something different.

Not perfection.
But light.
Patience.
Charity.
Hope.

Lent asks:
How will I become more like Christ in these forty days?

Prayer: The Breath of the Soul

In the Gospel, Jesus gives us the timeless triad:

Pray. Fast. Give alms.

Prayer comes first because prayer is relationship.

Without prayer:

• Hearts are not changed

• Deserts are not crossed

• Battles are not won

Even five minutes a day can become holy ground.

Five minutes of silence.
Five minutes of honesty.
Five minutes of listening.

Prayer is not informing God.
Prayer is allowing God to form us.

Fasting: Freedom Through Detachment

Jesus calls us to fast, not as punishment, but as liberation.

To fast is to say:

“I refuse to be ruled by my appetites.”

Yes, bodily fasting matters.
Yes, sacrifice matters.

Because a disciple is, by definition, a disciplined one.

And perhaps one of the greatest fasts in our age is this:

One hour a day, stay away from social media. Turn off the TV.
Place the phone in a drawer.
Do not touch it.

In that hour:

• Read the Bible.

• Reflect on the Word.

• Pray

• Be present to the people around you. 

This fast exposes a deeper hunger, our addiction to noise, distraction, and self-importance.

“Who needs me?”
“What am I missing?”

But Lent asks a sharper question:

God… or the screen?

Almsgiving: Love Made Visible

Finally, Jesus calls us to give.

Almsgiving is love enacted.

It may be:

• A donation

• A meal shared

• Time offered

• Kindness extended

• Compassion given

It need not be grand. It must be real.

For there is no such thing as “me and Jesus” alone.

It is always:

Jesus, others, and then me.

Love of God that does not become love of neighbor is incomplete.

The Danger of a Wasted Lent

We now begin these forty days.

We receive ashes.
We make resolutions.
We carry intentions.

But let us speak plainly.

If Easter arrives and nothing has changed ,
If our hearts remain closed ,
If our habits remain untouched ,
If our love remains unmoved ,

Then these forty days will have been a tragic waste.

Lent is too precious.
Grace is too costly.
Life is too brief.

The Church whispers today:

Stop.
Reflect.
Return.

Remember you are dust,
and unto dust you shall return.

But remember also:

Dust, redeemed by Christ, is destined not merely for the grave, but for resurrection.

God bless you.

BTYB Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings for February 19, 2026-First Thursday after Ash Wednesday

First Reading: (Dteronomy 30:15–20)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 1:1–2, 3, 4 & 6)

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

• Blessed is the one who does not follow the counsel of the wicked

• But delights in the law of the Lord

• Like a tree planted near running water

• The Lord watches over the way of the just

Alleluia: (Matthew 4:17)

“Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Gospel: (Luke 9:22–25)

Jesus said:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly… be killed… and on the third day be raised.”
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,
take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
“What profit is there to gain the whole world yet lose oneself?”

Reflection

Today’s readings strike at the heart of Lent’s purpose: decision.

1. “Choose life.”

Moses presents a stark choice: life or death, blessing or curse.
Not as a threat-but as a revelation.
Every day, every action, every desire bends us toward one of these paths.
Lent exposes what we’ve been choosing without noticing.

2. The Cross is daily, not seasonal.

Jesus doesn’t say, “Take up your cross once.”
He says daily: meaning discipleship is not a moment but a rhythm.
It’s the small sacrifices, the quiet obedience, the hidden fidelity.

3. The world offers gain; Christ offers life.

The Gospel asks the most piercing question:
What am I chasing that cannot save me?
Lent is the season when we stop pretending that worldly gain can fill a spiritual hunger.

4. The invitation is personal.

Christ doesn’t say, “Follow My teachings.”
He says, “Follow Me.”
A relationship, not a rulebook.
A Person, not a program.

Prayer

Lord, help me choose life today-
not the life the world promises,
but the life You offer:
faithfulness, courage, sacrifice, and love.
Give me the grace to take up my cross daily
and follow You with a willing heart.
Amen.