5TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIMES 8TH FEBRUARY 2026

                        “Faith That Shows: Being Salt and Light in Ordinary Life”

  On this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Word of God draws us deeply into the vocation of visible, lived holiness. The First Reading from Isaiah (58:7–10) dismantles any temptation to reduce religion to ritual alone. True worship, the prophet insists, is expressed in concrete acts of mercy: sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked. When faith becomes embodied love, then “light shall rise in the darkness.” God’s presence is not revealed primarily in grand gestures, but in justice, compassion, and solidarity with the vulnerable. Psalm 112 echoes this vision, portraying the righteous person as one whose generosity and integrity make them a light for others. Holiness, therefore, is not withdrawal from the world but faithful engagement with it.

  In the same way, the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 2:1–5), St. Paul deepens this theme by reminding the Corinthians that the power of the Gospel does not rest on eloquence or human wisdom, but on the saving power of Christ crucified. Paul deliberately renounces rhetorical showmanship so that faith may be grounded in God’s action rather than human performance. This humility is itself a form of light—one that points beyond the preacher to the Crucified Lord. The Christian life, Paul suggests, is most luminous when it allows God’s power to be revealed through weakness. Authentic witness flows not from self-promotion but from trust in the Spirit who works quietly yet effectively in receptive hearts.

  Finally, the Gospel (Matthew 5:13–16) brings these readings to their climax as Jesus names his disciples “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” Salt preserves and gives flavour; light reveals and guides. Both are effective only when they are used, not hidden. Jesus does not ask his followers to create light, but to reflect it—through good works that glorify the Father. This is not a call to public display for its own sake, but to a life so rooted in love, humility, and service that it naturally points to God. On this Sunday, the Church is reminded that her mission is credibility: a faith that tastes real and a holiness that shines in daily life, so that a watching world may glimpse the goodness of God. May God grant us the Grace to be able to live as the salt of the earth and the true light of the world!

                                                          By Fr. Emmanuel Nsereko CSSp