5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
February 8, 2026
REFLECTION ON TODAY'S READING
Salt of the Earth, Light of the World
On this Sunday morning, ask the Lord to teach you to choose Him each day in every action. “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world.” (Mt 5:13-16)
Recall the words of St. John Paul II: “You, who have welcomed Christ's message of salvation into your hearts, are the salt of the earth because you must help prevent human life from deteriorating or becoming corrupted by the pursuit of false values.”
Offer the Lord your desire to be a witness, like salt and light, so that all may recognize Him as the only Lord. Amen
Pray the prayer of offering.
Under the directive from the Diocese of Honolulu
St. Joseph Church has set up an egiving program to allow parishioners and guests an easier way to give. It will also allow the donors to: 1. Give from anywhere using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. 2. No need to find a check or stop by the ATM. 3. Use your Checking/Savings Account or your Debit/Credit Card. 4. Schedule gifts to occur automatically. Click on the give now link or on your phone using my parish app. “All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 16:17
Online donations may be made at any time from the comfort of your own home or any place with internet access. Online donations are credited to your tax statement for the end of the year (except when made anonymously)and you can change your account preferences and donation amounts at any time.
Saint Joseph Church Makawao - Bulletin
The Gospel Reading, Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus teaches that his disciples are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. .
Following upon the teaching of the Beatitudes, Jesus uses the now familiar metaphors of salt and light to describe the life of discipleship. We take salt and light for granted in our society, but these commodities were more precious in ancient cultures. Just as now, salt was used in Jesus’ time for flavoring, as a preservative, and as a healing agent. Similarly, the widespread use of electricity in the modern world makes us less aware of the value and importance of light in our lives.
Still, our familiarity with this passage from Matthew’s Gospel speaks well to the abiding power of the imagery that Jesus presented. Jesus’ call to be salt for the earth and light for the world powerfully states our mission as Church and as Christians. Our commitment to social justice flows from the exhortation that Jesus gives us in today’s Gospel. Some of the activities that this commitment leads us to are given more concrete expression as the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, console those who mourn, and so on, we show ourselves to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. When we do these things with the community of faith, the Church, we are indeed acting as “a city set on a mountain” that cannot be hidden!
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(https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection )
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A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
In this weekend’s readings and psalm, the prevailing theme is that of light: We are the light of the world; our light breaks forth like the dawn; our light shines in the darkness; our light reflects generosity and justice. Good stewards know they are the lamp, and Christ is the flame that, through them, illuminates the earth. They know that they carry Christ’s light in their hearts, and let it shine through their words and deeds. What are we doing to shine Christ’s light on the hungry, the homeless and others most in need of God’s mercy? How do we exercise good stewardship over the light of Christ that burns within each of us?
—— (https://catholicstewardship.com/)
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
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