5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Word from the Parish Priest

This Sunday, the Word of God reminds us of who we truly are. The prophet Isaiah speaks of light breaking forth like the dawn, and Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Light does not argue with darkness – it simply shines. This is our calling: to bring warmth, hope, and quiet strength into ordinary lives.

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all parishioners for the joyful Winter Celebration at Holy Cross Preparatory School. It was a beautiful sign of a parish alive and walking together – children playing, families sharing, volunteers serving generously. Thank you to everyone who helped organise, welcome, support, and serve so selflessly.

I also thank the members of the Parish Hall Development Committee who have generously agreed to serve our parish in the important task of developing better facilities for our growing parish family. Your willingness reflects trust, responsibility, and hope for the future.

Let us carry today’s message into the week ahead – to be salt that gives meaning and light that brings clarity.

With prayers and blessings,
Fr James Raj

Spiritual Evening

Tuesday, 10 February | 7:30 pm
Theme: Biblical Women – Their Lives and Lessons
An evening of reflection and sharing for all parishioners.

Bible Study

Friday, 20 February | 8:00 pm
(After evening Mass and Way of the Cross during Lent)
A welcoming space to grow together in Scripture and faith.

Nutrition Session (60+ Group)

Wednesday, 11 February
Held during the regular 60+ gathering, focusing on well-being and healthy living.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Mass Times: 10:00 am & 7:00 pm

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent – a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance.
A day of fasting and abstinence. All are strongly encouraged to attend Mass and receive ashes.

Coffee & Conversation with the Mayor

Monday, 16 February | 1:00–3:00 pm
St John’s Church Hall, Kingston Vale
All parishioners are welcome to this community-focused gathering promoting connection and resilience.

Homily “Your light shall break forth like the dawn.” (Isaiah 58:8)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that shape our identity. He does not give instructions first; He reveals who we are.
He says, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14).

Not you should become, not you may try to be — you are.

Let us reflect on this through a simple story.

There was once a farmer who found an egg lying by the roadside. Not knowing what kind of egg it was, he took it home and placed it among his chickens. In time, the egg hatched. Among the chicks, there was one bird that looked a little different. Yet it grew up scratching the ground, pecking, running around the yard, living like a chicken — because that was all it had ever known.

One day, an eagle flew high above the farm. Its shadow fell on the ground, and all the chickens began to scatter. But the eagle noticed something unusual — among them was one that looked like him, yet was running in fear like a chicken.

The eagle swooped down and asked, “Why are you running like this?”
The bird replied, “Because I am a chicken.”

The eagle said, “You are not a chicken. You are an eagle.”

He took the bird to the riverside, showed him his reflection, spread his wings, and invited him to do the same. And when that bird finally opened his wings, he discovered the truth — he was made to fly. And he rose high into the sky.

My dear brothers and sisters,
this is the heart of today’s Gospel.

We are born into this world and slowly shaped by habits, expectations, fears, and limitations. Without realising it, we begin to live below our calling. We forget who we truly are.

That is why the Word of God reminds us today. The first reading tells us,
“Your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly” (Isaiah 58:8).
Again it says, “Your light will rise in the darkness” (Isaiah 58:10).

When Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, He speaks of a quality of life. Salt does not remain on the surface. It dissolves. It enters. It touches every part. If salt stays only at the edges, the food remains tasteless. Salt preserves, gives flavour, and prevents decay — and when it loses its taste, it loses its purpose.

When Jesus calls us the light of the world, He reveals our inner nature. Light does not argue with darkness. It simply shines, and darkness disappears. Water can be polluted. Air can be polluted. Soil can be polluted. But light cannot be polluted.

Fire always burns upward. Not by effort, but by its nature. And whatever touches fire is transformed.

This is deep wisdom. In the Indian spiritual tradition, we understand that when awareness rises, ignorance falls away naturally. Light does not struggle — it is.

So Jesus invites us to allow this salt and this light to enter every aspect of our life — our thinking, our relationships, our decisions, our silence, our suffering. When we live from our true centre, we begin to think higher — not with pride, but with clarity. We begin to give life — not by doing more, but by being more present.

The prophet says, “Your light shall break forth like the dawn.” Dawn comes gently, steadily, faithfully — and yet it changes everything.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is not about becoming extraordinary. It is about not losing our taste, not forgetting our purpose, not allowing our inner fire to be covered by fear or routine.

Jesus looks at us today and says: remember who you are.
Live from that truth.
And your very presence will heal, preserve, and illuminate the world around you.

Amen.