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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
February 8, 2026
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
5th Sunday of the TO
34th WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
Let your light shine before men:
So, seeing what good you are doing,
They will give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Méditation
Meditation by Pope Francis
“Today’s liturgy offers a passage from the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 5:13-16) in which Jesus speaks once again to his followers in simple words, so that all may understand the message. He gives this definition of Christians: a Christian must be salt and light. Salt gives flavor and preserves, and light illuminates…”
But how can we prevent the lack of light and salt?", that is to say, how can we prevent the Christian from disappearing, from being weak, from weakening in his vocation, precisely?
Homily
Draw from the source
The biblical texts for this Sunday reveal a God who guides us toward the true Light. The prophet Isaiah (first reading) addresses a people returning from a long captivity. The painful aftereffects of this terrible period still linger. Despite everything, religious practice has been re-established. Full of good faith, these people want to please God. But there is a problem; and this is where Isaiah intervenes. Many believe that God expects the most sumptuous ceremonies and the finest fruits of the earth. It is understandable that they would want to prostrate themselves before the creator of heaven and earth.
But the true God is not like that; he demands nothing for himself or for his personal glory. His happiness lies in seeing that right and justice guide our relationships. His greatest joy is that we live together as brothers and sisters. Our attention must be directed toward the weakest and the poorest: “Share your bread with the hungry… Do not turn away from your neighbor.” We cannot love God without loving our neighbor. The God of the Bible is a liberating and merciful God. What he asks of us is to have the same behavior. This is important because we are made in the image of God.
The Apostle Paul (second reading) also sought to show us the One who is the true light. His message has nothing to do with human wisdom. He himself was not a persuasive orator. Unlike the people of Corinth, he was no eloquent tribune. He had no gift for swaying crowds. But he believed in the boundless love of a God who allowed himself to be crucified. For the Corinthians, this was unimaginable. And yet, this is what he wanted to bear witness to with all his might. He did not seek to convince the crowds with human arguments. But he believed in the Holy Spirit who worked in him and through him. He understood that faith does not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Understanding the readings
with Marie-Noëlle THABUT
Une parole pour la route
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