Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 8, 2026

Matthew 5:13-16

Right away, it is clear in this gospel that Jesus is talking to his own disciples, not to the crowd or those outside his inner group. He tells them that they are already now the salt of the earth and light of the world. They are different from other Jews or the gentiles. They, and we, are a critical necessity for the spread of the Kingdom, just like salt and light are for life. In the world of Jesus, salt seasons, preserves, purifies; it is used to ratify covenants or pay a debt. A gift of it shows a bond of friendship. Light is necessary to see, to make clear, to make things understandable. And these qualities are the hallmark of the disciple; in fact they define who a disciple is.

It is easy to understand what light does; it makes the message of Jesus understandable in a dramatic way. Being the light of the world is a bold and large claim to make. Light stands out and is clearly seen. It is not so easy to realize what salt does. Salt is more subtle; salt can be used to heal and to enhance flavor in food. Salt is used in smaller amounts; recipes call for “a pinch of salt.” That small pinch is still necessary, without it food is dull and flat; and when diluted, salt becomes useless and loses it's flavor. When Jesus says that his disciples are the salt of the earth, he is pointing to the value of a small gesture, a simple word, a gentle touch. It involves words and actions that are not very big at all. They would almost seem not to matter. And yet, they can make all the difference in someone’s

One day a man visited St. Teresa of Calcutta’s home for the poor and the dying in Calcutta. He arrived just as the Sisters were bringing in some of the dying off the streets. They had picked up a man off the gutter, and he was covered with dirt and sores. Without knowing that she was being watched, one of the Sisters began to care for the dying man. The visitor kept watching the Sister as she worked. He saw how tenderly she cared for her patient. He noticed how, as she washed the man, she smiled at him. She did not miss a detail in her attentive care of that dying man. After carefully watching the Sister the visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, “When I came here today, I didn’t believe in God, and my heart was full of hatred. But now I am leaving here believing in God. I have seen the love of God in action. Through the hands of that Sister, through her tenderness, through her gestures which were so full of love for that wretched man, I have seen God’s love descend upon him. Now I believe.” — We make God present to others by being the salt of the earth and light of the world.

This is exactly what Jesus is calling us who are his disciples to do and be. It does not take much for us to be alert to the needs of those around us; perhaps a simple word of greeting, a small gesture of care, a gentle touch. These actually are saving actions and words that awaken hope in another person. In the large difficulties of life, there is often not much we can say to a person diagnosed with cancer, or who has lost a spouse or child, but presence and sharing coffee can be very important and give faith and hope new life.

It is important for us to remember: when we cannot be the light of the world, it is still a service to be a small light or a pinch of salt.

Fr. John Tran