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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

February 08, 2026

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care,
that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace,
they may be defended always by your protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (RM)

First Reading Isaiah 58:6-10

Thus says the Lord: 6 “Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.”

Responsorial Psalm 112:4-5,6-7,8-9

R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus went up the mountain and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to teach them: 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Catena Nova

Let your virtue, the perfection of your life, and the performance of good works inspire those who see you to praise the common Master of us all. And so I beg each of you to strive to live so perfectly that the Lord may be praised by all who see you. By the perfection of your lives attract to yourselves the grace of the Spirit, so that the Lord of all creation may be glorified, and so that we may all be found worthy of the kingdom of heaven (St. John Chrysostom)

The Lord has already called his disciples the “salt of the earth” because they seasoned with divine wisdom the hearts of the human race which had been made tasteless by the devil. Now he also calls them the “light of the world.” For, illumined by his very own self who is the true and eternal light, they too become light within the darkness. For since he himself is the sun of righteousness, he rightly also calls his disciples “light of the world.” Through them, as if through shining rays, he poured the light of his knowledge on the entire world. For by showing the light of truth, the Lord’s disciples made the darkness of error flee from people’s hearts. (St. Chromatius of Aquileia)

Sometimes the flame of a lamp can leap up and burn furiously. At other times it burns gently and quietly. Sometimes its light leaps up and emits a great radiance. At other times its small flame gives out only a dim light. This is how it is with the lamp of grace in the soul. It is always lit and giving off illumination, but when it burns with special radiance, it is as if the soul were drunk with love for God. At other times, as God himself decides, the light is still there but it is only a dim glow. (St. Macarius the Great)

God is in love with us and keeps using you and me to light the light of love in the world. Let His light of truth be in your life so that God can continue loving the world through you and me. Put your heart into being a bright light. (St. Teresa of Calcutta)

One of the main functions of salt is to season food, to give it taste and flavour. This image reminds us that, through Baptism, our whole being has been profoundly changed, because it has been "seasoned" with the new life which comes from Christ (cf. Rom 6:4). The salt which keeps our Christian identity intact even in a very secularized world is the grace of Baptism. Through Baptism we are re-born. We begin to live in Christ and become capable of responding to his call to "offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Rom 12:1). Writing to the Christians of Rome, Saint Paul urges them to show clearly that their way of living and thinking was different from that of their contemporaries: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect" (Rom 12:2). (Pope St. John Paul II)

We no longer have to ask ourselves if we are approaching a state of emergency. We are in the midst of it, right here and now, and we expect the future to mirror the past.... It is in the midst of this dark world that we are invited to live and radiate hope. Is it possible? Can we become light, salt, and leaven to our brothers and sisters in the human family? Can we offer hope, courage, and confidence to the people of this era? Do we dare break through our paralyzing fear? Will people be able to say of us, 'See how they love each other, how they serve their neighbor, and how they pray to their Lord?' Or do we have to confess that at this juncture of history we just do not have the needed strength or the generosity? How can we live in hope so as to give hope? And how do we find true joy? (Henri Nouwen)

The Church and the world do not need people who fulfill their religious duties as if the faith were merely an external label. We need laborers who are eager to work in the mission field, loving disciples who bear witness to the Kingdom of God in all places. Perhaps there is no shortage of “intermittent Christians” who occasionally act upon some religious feeling or participate in sporadic events. But there are few who are ready, on a daily basis, to labor in God’s harvest, cultivating the seed of the Gospel in their own hearts in order then to share it in their families, places of work or study, their social contexts and with those in need. (Pope Leo XIV)

Homily

We all know that salt seasons food and light helps us to see. Pretty obvious. But in the ancient world salt had an additional use as a preservative. In the days before refrigeration, meat was kept from spoiling by "curing it." My AI Overview says, "Salt preserves food by drawing out moisture through osmosis, creating a dry environment where spoilage microbes can't thrive, effectively dehydrating them and inhibiting their growth….which also alters food's texture and flavor and can even introduce beneficial bacteria for fermentation."

As for light, have you ever wondered why you get colds or the flu during the winter but not so much warmer weather? It's because sunlight, or specifically UV rays, can kill viruses and bacteria. Ancient civilizations understood this and practiced "heliotherapy" where sunlight was used medicinally for healing. So when Jesus told his disciples to be salt of the earth and light of the world, one role they should play is to preserve or "cure" it and the other is to disinfect it. Off brand uses, so to speak.

So how might we preserve society from corruption? Firstly, by recognizing the signs of spoilage. In recent weeks, we have been treated to the public testimony of Jack Smith concerning the near-spoilage of our democracy on January 6, 2021 along with those responsible. And we have seen the relentless efforts to have the Epstein files released which reveal corruption of the worst sort by perpetrators along with corrupt government agencies seeking to cover it all up.

Then there's light. How might we help disinfect society? Again, by knowing where the pathogens are present on the body politic and by shining light on the deadly outbreaks of infection making for a sick society. Here too we have been fed campaigns of lies and disinformation trying to convince us that our eyes are deceiving us, that victims of government-sponsored violence were really domestic terrorists, and that those who fomented an insurrection were really patriots out to save democracy.

But is there more we must do beyond naming the corruption and the infection? Of course there is. In addition to statements from church leadership (at long last!) Catholic media has offered some concrete suggestions. For example, Kevin Clarke writing in America quotes several people with their suggestions: "being civically engaged and paying attention to what’s going on and who our elected leaders are and how to ask them for accountability to us as citizens” (Elena Gaona); then "[prayer] shows us…which issues we are particularly called to be active on and how to do that in a loving, faith-filled, gospel-rooted way.…None of us can do everything and it’s so easy to become overwhelmed and then just withdraw and do nothing…. [Each of us through prayer can see where God is calling us] “to be peace builders, to be loving our neighbors, to be living the gospel" (Michelle Dunne); Jon Gromek of the Ignatian Solidarity Network says that [Catholic peacemaking in our time] “starts with naming the heaviness of the space we’re in and then refusing to let despair have the last word…We each have our own thing that we can do and when we do those little things together, that’s when we do great, big things that are heeding the call of our faith to respond to these moments…building this beloved community we’re all working toward.” (" A Catholic guide to resisting the ICE crackdown," America; January 29, 2026).

In addition to America other Catholic media — so dominated by more conservative voices aligned with the administration and, despite their "pro-life" commitments, have been largely mute as we witness family separations, child detainees, and using children as lures — are also speaking out. And while resources such as the entire February issue of Commonweal asking the question "When will it all end?" to the National Catholic Reporter publishing articles like "Catholics must decide if they serve Trump or the Gospel" (January 26, 2026) and "How should Catholics protest Trumpism"(February 2, 2026) to Where Peter is There is the Church suggesting "What Martin Luther Jr. has to say to Bishop Robert Barron" (January 23, 2026) — there is a relative paucity of such voices.

So I would like to highlight a newcomer to the scene — a young man by the name of Christopher Hale. He has started a website called The Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics (https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/). In a recent offering entitled, "Under Pope Leo XIV, American Catholics Are Uniting to Defeat MAGA Authoritarianism" (January 31, 2026) he notes how

Across the country — even in the heart of “MAGA country” — Catholics have become the most visible, organized counterweight to Trump's agenda. In deep-red communities, parishioners, religious women and men, and priests are banding together to shelter immigrant families and speak out against cruelty….Today, only 39% of Catholics approve of President Trump, his lowest rating ever among our faith community. Make no mistake, fellow Catholics: if we decide collectively that Trump and Vance should no longer lead this country, rest assured, they will no longer be in charge….It’s now unmistakable: the Catholic Church in America is awakening as a force for conscience against the ethos of fear and exclusion that MAGA has tried to normalize. At the center of this awakening is the American Pope Leo XIV….Under Leo’s leadership, Catholic social teaching is being reawakened in the American public square. He has framed the defense of migrants and the vulnerable as a pro-life imperative and a test of our faith’s authenticity. This is the Gospel in action, and the faithful are responding….The message from Rome is clear: no political ideology can justify dehumanizing our neighbors. And American Catholics are hearing that call….Under Pope Leo’s guidance, American Catholics are rising to reclaim the soul of both our Church and our country.

So there you have it. Lots of salt to preserve and light to disinfect. Be it!

[Of course, Catholics are not the only group we should mention. Clergy across denominational lines continue to offer moral leadership for the present crisis. The following video is an open letter to "their fellow Americans" from 150 bishops of the Episcopal Church followed by an open letter from several interfaith leaders].

The murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti – two U.S. citizens devoted to civic engagement and to caring for their immigrant neighbors – have left communities in Minneapolis and across the nation grieving, shaken, and rightly outraged. Their deaths are a profound moral failure, and they demand our collective attention and response.

As faith leaders in the greater Washington, D.C. region, we affirm the sacred worth of every human life. That commitment includes – and compels us to stand with – immigrants and others who are especially vulnerable in this moment. We condemn without reservation the use of indiscriminate and lethal force against civilians. The actions we have witnessed in recent days represent a grave departure from our nation’s deepest moral commitments and from the values of human dignity, restraint, and accountability that our faith traditions uphold. When the power of the state is exercised without regard for life, justice, or the common good, the foundations of democracy itself are put at risk. We speak out now from a place of deep love for our nation and a growing concern that our own local communities will potentially experience the same loss of life and turmoil we are seeing in Minneapolis.

Renee and Alex were killed while seeking justice for their community. We honor their lives by refusing to look away and by calling, together, for accountability from those entrusted with authority. At this pivotal moment in our nation’s life, we are faced with a choice: whether to allow fear, cruelty, and disorder to define us, or to respond with courage, conscience, and moral resolve. We stand with our neighbors, fellow clergy, and state and local leaders who have called on national authorities to end practices that place people in harm’s way.

Throughout history, people of faith have been called to speak when human dignity is threatened. We believe that call is before us now. Communities in the greater Washington region have already experienced the fear and disruption caused by aggressive enforcement tactics, including incidents near schools and houses of worship – places that should remain sanctuaries, not sites of intimidation. We will not accept the tearing apart of our neighborhoods or the normalization of dehumanization. We urge government officials at every level to recommit themselves to policies that uphold life, dignity, and the rule of law. And we call on all people of conscience to work together for a society in which every person can walk their streets without fear, and with the knowledge that they are seen, valued, and protected.

Robert Cardinal McElroy,

Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky,

Director of Intergroup Relations & Rabbi-in-Residence, JCRC of Greater Washington

Romi Sawhney, Executive Director,

Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF)

Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt,

President of the Unitarian Universalist Association

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde,

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington

Behram Panthaki,

Head Priest, The Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington Inc (ZAMWI)

Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling,

Resident Bishop, The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula Delaware Area, The United Methodist Church

Dr. Sousan Abadian,

Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we may be a light to our world and that our words and deed may be instruments of healing and transformation for our society.

For courage: that we may salt and awaken our society from complacency as we bring the insights and challenges of the Gospel into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and public discourse.

For all who reach out to the poor and those in need: that they may see the face of Christ in those whom they serve and never grow weary in offering love and compassion.

For those who speak prophetic words: that their cry may be like salt, raising our awareness and stirring our desire for peace, justice and solidarity.

For a healing of the wounds of selfishness and violence: that God will bring wholeness to our hearts and spirits as we attend to the pain and suffering of others.

For greater care for our common home: that we may grow in our respect for the earth as God’s gift to us and work to preserve it for future generations.

For world leaders: that they continue to search for ways to heal ancient wounds and find ways of promoting peace and justice for all.

Heavenly Father, you have called your Church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Give us vigorous faith and a love that is genuine, so that all may see our works and give you the glory. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

“Light and salt” you called your friends,

On the hill, your city:

Let your light shine out for men,

Skill and peace and pity.

But if salt lost its taste

And the light its fuel,

And the city shuts its gates,

Whence can come renewal?

Each in his own place receives

Gospel, guidance, duty,

Daily bread and daily work,

Toward the kingdom’s beauty;

Yet the world’s distracting scene

Mocks our lofty vision,

Life’s complexities confuse

Conscience and decision.

Men dispute and nations fight,

Each all virtues claiming;

Your disciple errs and falls,

False opinion framing.

Judge me, Lord, and plead my cause,

Light and truth now send me,

Lead me in your righteousness,

Chasten and befriend me.

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn (Bernadette Farrell)

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

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