Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Year A, Feb 8. 2026)
“… that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (5:1)
“Ah! brothers,
look where the candle burns in Simeon’s hands;
that is the light to light your tapers from,
those lamps which the Lord would have you holding.
Go to him and you will be lit up;
not so much bearers of lamps as lamps yourselves,
shining within and without, lighting yourselves and your neighbors.
May this lamp be in heart and hand and mouth:
a lamp in your heart to light yourself;
a lamp in your hands and on your lips to light your neighbors.
The light in your heart is loving faith;
the lamp in your hands is the example of good deeds;
the lamp on your lips, helpful and strengthening words.
…
So that you may light all these lamps for yourselves, my brethren,
come to the source of light and be enlightened.
…
When all your lamps are lighted, sons of light,
you will not walk in darkness, nor will you need to fear the condemnation.
…
as for you for whom so many lamps are shining,
you will see, when your lamp of life is doused, the light of life undying
rise like the blaze of noon in your evening sky.
And just when you thought your candle had burned down,
you will flame up again and your darkness will be like noonday.
You will not need the glory of the sun to light you by day,
nor will the moonlight shine on you,
but the Lord will be your everlasting light:
for the Lamb is the lamp of the new Jerusalem,
to whom be all blessing and radiance of glory for ever and ever. Amen.
– Guerric of Igny, The first sermon for the feast of the Purification –
