The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12
‘Everyone who asks receives.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland and a member of the global Caritas family, has expressed serious concern over reductions to the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.

SCIAF has described the cuts as “cruel and devastating”, warning that they risk impacting some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, including women and girls, children, people with disabilities and those living in conflict-affected regions.

The charity has highlighted the potential consequences for programmes providing food, shelter, clean water and education in fragile contexts across Africa and Asia.

SCIAF works with communities in some of the world’s poorest countries, irrespective of race, religion or background, seeking to end poverty, protect our common home, and support recovery from disaster. It is urging the UK Government to reconsider the reductions and to renew its commitment to global solidarity and justice.

The full SCIAF statement can be read here:


SCIAF has hit out at a decision in 2025 to cut the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.5% to 0.3% by 2027 – set to be the steepest reduction of any G7 country.

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Gospel
Luke 11:29-32
‘No sign will be given to this generation except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.’

At that time: When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.’

Today, Tuesday, 24th February 2026, marks four years since the invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that continues to bring suffering, loss and uncertainty to so many.

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), together with the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, has invited people to pause on this anniversary and remember the people of Ukraine in prayer. This echoes the continued appeals of Pope Leo XIV to support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine during this time of trial.

Today, we remember Ukraine and all who continue to long for peace.