5th Sunday in O.T.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (year A)

(Mt 5:13-16)

Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matthew 5:16 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.

Jesus says: when you light a lamp, you cannot put it under a container, that would be absurd, but you place it on a candlestick so that it can give light to all those in the house. This is the task of the disciples, who by putting the message of the Beatitudes into practice can render a vital service to the world. Believers are defined as light and lamps. The meaning is identical, since the lamp has to do with light that illuminates, but their illumination is different. As light, the community is in reference to the world and must make itself visible among men like a city set on a hill; while individual believers, defined in their intra-community relationships, are called to be lamps for 'all those in the house'.

The light, therefore, must shine both inside and outside the community. The light that illuminates men must start from within the community and then radiate out to everyone. It is a light that flows from the very heart of every believer, rooted in the risen Christ, which permeates the entire community and then spreads out into the world. Only if every single believer shines with the light of the Risen One will the community be illuminated and become a light for the world. Light does not change reality; light makes reality visible.

In fact, the immediate consequence of light is precisely seeing: "so that they may see" (v. 16), that is, noticing something new that has been born among men - God's very action among them - which they must see through "your good works". These good works of the believer closely recall the refrain of creation: "And God saw that it was good" . The good works accomplished by the believer are parallel to God's creation. It is significant that God's creative act begins precisely with light (Gen 1:3), and in this context of light, the entire creation is then placed. Thus, the accomplishment of good works by the disciple becomes the new dimension into which humanity is called to enter. Indeed, it is precisely these good works that become the cause of a new humanity that praises God: "glorify your Father who is in heaven." Giving glory is a somewhat abstract expression. To explain it simply, we can say: love translated into works. When people want to give glory to God, all they have to do is translate the love they experience into concrete gestures towards others. The purpose of these works is that people may recognise God, and feeling loved, may discover in their own lives that there is a God who is Father, who manifests this love.

The verb 'doxazō', translated as 'give glory', will later be presented by Jesus when speaking to the Pharisees who want 'to be praised by men' (Mt 6:2), who want to be glorified by their own works; this is true idolatry. If, in doing my works, my good works, I do not seek the glory of God, but seek my own glory, I replace God and want to be the centre of attention, the subject that attracts applause and praise. If works have this negative aspect, we no longer have the light that shines.

The light of the Christian is his new life lived among men. A life made up of truth and charity, mercy and forgiveness. The diversity of life makes the difference, and this difference is transformed into the giving of glory to God. Today, it is precisely this difference that is lacking. If the difference does not exist, it is a sign that the works of the Christian are not of light.

Faith is not 'proved' but 'shown', simply, not through a demonstration, which is an intellectual fact, which may even smack of dialectics: convincing the other person. Faith is shown: the relationship you have with God and with others shines, makes you understand, makes you feel, communicates. Then the Father who is in heaven is glorified.

Our responsibility as Christians is great in every respect.

Argentino Quintavalle, author of the books

- Apocalypse – exegetical commentary

- The Apostle Paul and the Judaizers – Law or Gospel?

Jesus Christ, true God and true Man in the Trinitarian mystery

The prophetic discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24-25)

All generations will call me blessed

Catholics and Protestants in comparison – In defence of the faith

The Church and Israel according to St Paul – Romans 9-11

(Available on Amazon)

375 Last modified on Tuesday, 03 February 2026 11:19

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Argentino Quintavalle

Argentino Quintavalle è studioso biblico ed esperto in Protestantesimo e Giudaismo. Autore del libro “Apocalisse - commento esegetico” (disponibile su Amazon) e specializzato in catechesi per protestanti che desiderano tornare nella Chiesa Cattolica.

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Here we can experience first hand that God is life and gives life, yet takes on the tragedy of death (Pope Francis)

Qui tocchiamo con mano che Dio è vita e dona vita, ma si fa carico del dramma della morte (Papa Francesco)

The people thought that Jesus was a prophet. This was not wrong, but it does not suffice; it is inadequate. In fact, it was a matter of delving deep, of recognizing the uniqueness of the person of Jesus of Nazareth and his newness. This is how it still is today: many people draw near to Jesus, as it were, from the outside (Pope Benedict)

La gente pensa che Gesù sia un profeta. Questo non è falso, ma non basta; è inadeguato. Si tratta, in effetti, di andare in profondità, di riconoscere la singolarità della persona di Gesù di Nazaret, la sua novità. Anche oggi è così: molti accostano Gesù, per così dire, dall’esterno (Papa Benedetto)

Because of this unique understanding, Jesus can present himself as the One who revealsr the Father with a knowledge that is the fruit of an intimate and mysterious reciprocity (John Paul II)

In forza di questa singolare intesa, Gesù può presentarsi come il rivelatore del Padre, con una conoscenza che è frutto di un'intima e misteriosa reciprocità (Giovanni Paolo II)

Yes, all the "miracles, wonders and signs" of Christ are in function of the revelation of him as Messiah, of him as the Son of God: of him who alone has the power to free man from sin and death. Of him who is truly the Savior of the world (John Paul II)

Sì, tutti i “miracoli, prodigi e segni” di Cristo sono in funzione della rivelazione di lui come Messia, di lui come Figlio di Dio: di lui che, solo, ha il potere di liberare l’uomo dal peccato e dalla morte. Di lui che veramente è il Salvatore del mondo (Giovanni Paolo II)

It is known that faith is man's response to the word of divine revelation. The miracle takes place in organic connection with this revealing word of God. It is a "sign" of his presence and of his work, a particularly intense sign (John Paul II)

È noto che la fede è una risposta dell’uomo alla parola della rivelazione divina. Il miracolo avviene in legame organico con questa parola di Dio rivelante. È un “segno” della sua presenza e del suo operare, un segno, si può dire, particolarmente intenso (Giovanni Paolo II)

In the rite of Baptism, the presentation of the candle lit from the large Paschal candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ, is a sign that helps us to understand what happens in the Sacrament. When our lives are enlightened by the mystery of Christ, we experience the joy of being liberated from all that threatens the full realization (Pope Benedict)

Nel rito del Battesimo, la consegna della candela, accesa al grande cero pasquale simbolo di Cristo Risorto, è un segno che aiuta a cogliere ciò che avviene nel Sacramento. Quando la nostra vita si lascia illuminare dal mistero di Cristo, sperimenta la gioia di essere liberata da tutto ciò che ne minaccia la piena realizzazione (Papa Benedetto)

Doing a good deed almost instinctively gives rise to the desire to be esteemed and admired for the good action, in other words to gain a reward. And on the one hand this closes us in on ourselves and on the other, it brings us out of ourselves because we live oriented to what others think of us or admire in us (Pope Benedict)

Quando si compie qualcosa di buono, quasi istintivamente nasce il desiderio di essere stimati e ammirati per la buona azione, di avere cioè una soddisfazione. E questo, da una parte rinchiude in se stessi, dall’altra porta fuori da se stessi, perché si vive proiettati verso quello che gli altri pensano di noi e ammirano in noi (Papa Benedetto)

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