5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026: February 8

The season of Epiphany continues as we explore what it means to be salt and light in the world. Jesus calls His disciples to shine brightly, allowing their good works to point others to God. Join us as we celebrate the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026 with Rev. Shanley-Roberts and reflect on authentic faith that transforms not only our worship but also our treatment of the vulnerable and oppressed.

Join us for Mass in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person, via Live Stream, through Video Replay, or as a Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026!

We understand that you cannot always join us in person, which is why we offer a few options.

Livestream and Playback

Our livestream will begin at 8:50 AM with the organ prelude, and the service will start at 9:00 AM. Once the livestream ends, the same link will become the playback.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace. The podcast typically comes out on Sunday afternoon.

The Collect for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Readings for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026

Old Testament: Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12)

1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.

3 “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

[If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.]

Psalm 112:1-9, (10)

The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

[13 And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.]

The Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Reflection on the Readings for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany 2026

Join us as we explore being salt and light!

Old Testament – Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12)

Isaiah delivers a strong rebuke to a people who engage in outward religious practices while neglecting justice and compassion. They fast and seek God daily, yet God sees through their hypocrisy. On fast days, they serve their own interests, oppress their workers, and engage in quarrels and fights. God asks them pointedly: “Is this the fast I choose? Merely bowing the head and wearing sackcloth?” No, the fast God desires is to break the bonds of injustice, free the oppressed, dismantle every yoke, share bread with the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, and clothe the naked. When we live this way, Isaiah promises that our light will break forth like the dawn, healing will spring up, and God will respond when we call, saying, “Here I am.” True worship transforms how we treat the vulnerable.

Psalm 112:1-9, (10)

This wisdom psalm celebrates those who fear the Lord and take delight in His commandments. Such individuals are blessed, and their descendants will be strong. Light shines in the darkness for the upright, who are merciful and compassionate. They are generous in lending, manage their affairs justly, and remain unshaken by evil rumors because their hearts trust in the Lord. Importantly, they give freely to the poor, and their righteousness endures forever. The psalm links devotion to God with ethical living—those who truly fear the Lord show this through their generosity, justice, and compassion.

Epistle – 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)

Paul reflects on his approach to ministry in Corinth. He did not come with eloquent wisdom but rather in weakness, fear, and trembling, proclaiming only Jesus Christ crucified. His message relied not on persuasive rhetoric but on the power of the Spirit, so that their faith would rest on God’s power rather than human wisdom.

However, among mature believers, Paul does speak wisdom—not worldly wisdom, but God’s hidden wisdom that was decreed before the ages. The rulers of this age did not understand it; otherwise, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. God has revealed through the Spirit things that are beyond human comprehension—gifts prepared for those who love Him. We have received God’s Spirit to understand these divine gifts.

Gospel – Matthew 5:13-20

Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount by describing the identity and mission of his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” Salt that loses its flavor is worthless, and light is not meant to be hidden; it should be placed on a lampstand to illuminate the entire house. Disciples are called to let their light shine through good works that lead others to God.

Jesus then clarifies his relationship to the Law and the Prophets, stating that he has not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Not one letter of the law will disappear until everything is accomplished. Those who break even the least of the commandments and teach others to do so will be considered the least in the kingdom, while those who practice and teach them will be regarded as great.

Reflection Wrap-up

The challenge is clear: unless our righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will not enter God’s kingdom.

The central theme of these readings is authentic faith that is expressed through justice and compassion. Isaiah challenges the idea that religious observance can replace ethical living. The psalmist praises the righteous individuals who generously help the poor. Paul emphasizes that God’s wisdom is revealed through the Spirit, not through human eloquence. Meanwhile, Jesus calls His disciples to be the salt and light of the world, encouraging them to let their good works reflect God’s glory as they seek a deeper righteousness beyond mere rule-following.

We are encouraged to reflect on whether our faith produces light—whether we are committed to breaking the bonds of injustice, feeding the hungry, and ensuring our righteousness goes beyond mere outward appearances. The fast that God chooses, the light that God ignites, and the righteousness that God seeks all stem from hearts transformed by the Spirit and are expressed through love for our neighbors.