Homily: February 17, 2026 Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (Desire)

 “Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity, it gives birth to death.”

St. James gives us an important teaching today. Desire, he says, can conceive and thereafter give birth to sin. If allowed to grow, it can reach a point of maturity, with the ability to take control and set direction, leading to death.

The consequence of sin is death.

Are all desires sinful or evil?

2,500 years ago, Buddha taught that desire is the cause of suffering. Because people almost always desire what they do not yet have. To be able to achieve the object of our desire, will sometimes bring us satisfaction, but when unable to achieve what we desire, will cause a sense of failure, a feeling dissatisfaction, the beginning of suffering.

Many Buddhists today desire freedom and justice, in places which do not have freedom and justice. The desire stems from a real need, and that is nothing bad or wrong. What could go wrong is the way such a desire is pursued.

To desire is a normal response of a human person. It stems from a specific need or want.

I remember my grandpa telling us stories of his early life and how difficult it was. In order to survive and protect his family, he had to move out of his home, then hide in the forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala. He rebuilt his home in the deep forests, in the wilderness. His greatest desire was simple: that his children would be safe from wild animals, especially snakes and tigers. It was what they needed, every moment of their lives.

Grandpa achieved that for his family. Then the next generation took over. With a permanent home and land, my father’s desires went beyond safety. He wished for financial stability and good education for his children. These were positive aspirations to upgrade life beyond basic needs.

He too achieved it for us. And now, for my generation, I see my siblings enjoying the comforts of life which were considered luxury for my parents’ generation. And I see my nieces and nephews living so comfortably, unaware and oblivious to hunger, danger, homelessness. Their desires now are new toys, gadgets, more comfort, more conveniences. Their desires are no longer about self-preservation but have grown to become self-fulfillment.

The desires over the generations have grown from basic needs to superfluous wants. And this is what St. James is warning us about.

When desire begins to control us, when it becomes endless, when it pulls our hearts away from God, that is when sin creeps in.

That is why St. James says: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.” We must be vigilant about what we allow our hearts to long for.

There is only one desire that never destroys, never enslaves, never disappoints: the desire for God.

Attractions that take us away from God, are distractions.

When we desire an intimate relationship with Jesus, something beautiful happens. The more we seek Him, the more we want Him. And unlike worldly desires, this hunger does not lead to death - it leads to life.

As St. Augustine understood of God: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Amen.