Homily 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 8 February 2026 Year A

https://youtu.be/9BoGo_ZE3h8

My dear friends, it is possible to be very religious and yet miss the heart of faith. On this

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the readings challenge us to move from outward religion

to a faith lived through mercy, humility, and light.

Isaiah spoke to the people of Israel during a time when they were very serious about

religious practices like fasting and prayer, especially after returning from exile. However,

their faith had become external. They observed rituals but ignored the poor, the hungry,

and the suffering around them. Through Isaiah, God challenges this false spirituality and

calls the people back to a faith lived through compassion and justice. In the reading,

God clearly explains what true worship looks like. It is not just about fasting, prayers, or

religious duties. God asks His people to share their bread with the hungry, welcome the

homeless, clothe the naked, and care for those in need. These simple acts of kindness

reveal a heart that truly belongs to God. When we ignore those who suffer, especially

those close to us, our worship becomes empty. The passage also carries a beautiful

promise. When we live with compassion, our “light will break forth like the dawn.” This

means that God’s presence will become visible in our lives. Darkness—fear, confusion,

and selfishness—will slowly disappear. God assures His people that He will hear their

prayers, guide them, and strengthen them when they choose to serve others. This

passage invites us to examine our own faith. Do we practice our religion only on special

days, or does it shape how we treat people every day? Isaiah reminds us that loving

God and loving our neighbour cannot be separated. When we feed the hungry, care for

the poor, and stand with the suffering, we become living signs of God’s light in the world.

In this way, Isaiah prepares the way for the Beatitudes, where Jesus blesses the poor,

the merciful, and those who hunger for righteousness. Which act of mercy is God

inviting you to today?

In the second reading taken from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul

reminds the Christian community in Corinth how he first preached the Gospel to them.

Corinth was a city that admired wisdom, clever speech, and public debate. Paul

deliberately chose a very different approach. He says that when he came to Corinth, he

did not rely on powerful words, advanced knowledge, or human wisdom. Instead, he

focused on one simple message: Jesus Christ, and Christ crucified. This was not an

attractive message by worldly standards. A crucified Messiah seemed weak and foolish

to many. Yet Paul knew that this message was the true source of salvation. He admits

that he came in weakness, fear, and trembling. Paul is not ashamed of this. He

understands that faith does not grow because a preacher is impressive, but because

God’s Spirit is at work. Paul’s goal was clear: he did not want the Corinthians to base

their faith on human wisdom. Human ideas change, fail, and sometimes deceive. But 

faith rooted in God’s power remains strong, even in times of difficulty. By preaching

simply and humbly, Paul allowed God to take centre stage. This passage challenges us

to rethink what we truly value in our lives. In a world shaped by social media and

success culture, we are easily impressed by popularity and charisma. Saint Paul

reminds us that real faith is not built on impressive personalities, but on the quiet power

of God at work in humble hearts. God works most powerfully when we accept our

weakness and depend on Him. When we place our confidence not in ourselves, but in

Christ, our faith becomes firm and alive, grounded not in words, but in the living power

of God.

Have you heard the idiom “not worth his salt”? It comes from the ancient world where

salt was precious and valuable. Soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, and a person who

did not do his duty was considered not worth the salt he received. Jesus uses this

powerful image in today’s gospel taken from Matthew to explain the role of his disciples

in the world. Jesus tells his listeners, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt has many

purposes: it gives flavour, preserves food from decay, and adds value. In the same way,

Christians are called to bring goodness, hope, and moral strength into society. When

followers of Jesus live according to his teaching, they help prevent the world from

becoming cold, corrupt, or indifferent. But Jesus also gives a warning. Salt can lose its

saltiness. Spiritually, this happens when disciples lose their inner fire—when bitterness,

unforgiveness, compromise, or selfishness take over. When we stop living what we

believe, we may still look religious, but our witness loses its power. We are no longer

what we are meant to be. Jesus then shifts to another image: light. Light does not exist

for itself; it exists to be seen. A lamp is not lit to be hidden, but to brighten the whole

house. Jesus reminds us that faith is not private only—it must be visible in our words,

choices, and actions. When we live with honesty, compassion, forgiveness, and

courage, others see God at work through us. Importantly, Jesus says our good works

should lead people not to praise us, but to glorify God. The goal is not attention, but

witness. Our lives should quietly point beyond ourselves to God’s love and mercy.

Jesus reminds us that discipleship is not optional or hidden. We are salt and light by

calling. The question is not if we influence the world, but how. This week, let our faith be

seen in one concrete act of mercy, forgiveness, or courage—so that others may give

glory to God. Are we worth our salt? May God bless us all.