Feb. 8, 2026: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time calls Christians to be light

A reflection for Feb. 8, 2026 links Matthew 5:13-16 and Isaiah 58 to a call for Christians to act as 'salt' and 'light,' using images like a teleidoscope and 'hot peppers' to urge renewed attention to migrants and the poor, and citing messages from Pope Leo XIV and U.S. bishops.

The reflection for Feb. 8, 2026 (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time) uses a teleidoscope image to suggest new ways of seeing Jesus' teachings. It focuses on Matthew 5:13-16 and Isaiah 58 and treats the salt-and-light language as a call to active mission rather than a technical metaphor. The author highlights concrete signs of that mission, such as sharing bread, clothing the naked, and sheltering the oppressed. Recent statements from Pope Leo XIV and U.S. bishops about migrants and refugees are cited to underscore the theme. Key points: - The piece reads "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" primarily as mission-oriented images, not as prompts for technical analysis of salt. - Isaiah 58 is presented as teaching that being a light involves feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the vulnerable. - The author quotes Pope Leo XIV's World Day of Migrants and Refugees message, which describes migrants and refugees as messengers of hope. - The U.S. bishops' November statement is noted as criticizing U.S. treatment of migrants and calling for meaningful immigration reform. - The reflection warns against "sedentarization" and uses playful images (teleidoscope, "hot peppers") to encourage Christians to see differently and respond. Summary: The reflection argues that renewed vision and concrete acts of solidarity can revive Christian witness and make God’s light visible in the world. It connects biblical texts with recent papal and episcopal remarks focused on migrants and the poor. Undetermined at this time.