From the Priests' Desk

February 8, 2026

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

Jesus speaks these words not as a command for the future, but as a statement of identity. He does not say “You should become” salt and light—He says “You are.” By our baptism, we already carry this calling within us.

Salt has a quiet power. A small amount changes the flavor of an entire dish. It preserves what would otherwise spoil. In the same way, Christians are called to bring the flavor of the Gospel into everyday life—into our families, workplaces, schools, and communities. Our faith is not meant to be kept in one corner of our homes or limited to Sunday worship. When lived with integrity, kindness, and mercy, it gives life its deeper meaning. Yet Jesus warns us: salt can lose its taste. When faith becomes routine, when love grows cold, or when fear silences our witness, the Gospel loses its savor in us.

Light, too, does not exist for itself. A lamp is lit so others may see. Christ, the true Light, shines through us so that the world may glimpse God’s goodness. This light is not about drawing attention to ourselves, but about revealing the Father’s love through our good works—acts of compassion, forgiveness, justice, and hope. Even the smallest light can push back great darkness.

Jesus invites us today to ask ourselves: Does my life add flavor to the world, or have I blended in too easily? Does my faith shine in the way I speak, act, and love? When we live authentically as salt and light, others are drawn not to us, but to God.

May we never underestimate the quiet power of a faithful life. In a world hungry for meaning and weary from darkness, Christ still says to us: You are the salt. You are the light. Let us live in a way that makes that truth visible.

Rev. Elmer Mandac