Sunday the 22nd of February 2026 - First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7/ Ps 51(50)/ Romans 5:12, 17-19/ Matthew 4:1-11

We are now in the season of Lent, we join Jesus in the desert, not a physical desert of sand and stone, but a spiritual desert, forty days that stretch before us like a holy invitation. A time when we walk alongside Jesus into a place of testing, a place of hunger, a place where the devil prowls. Why do we do this? Why would Jesus submit Himself to such hardship? Because Jesus loves us. Though He was fully divine, He was also fully human. In His humanity, Jesus chose to face everything we face. Every temptation, struggle, every moment when the world whispers its seductive lies. Jesus went into that desert to show us the way out. Consider what happened at the beginning, our ancestors, the first human beings, stood before the tree, and the serpent came with his twisted questions. The forbidden fruit looked good to eat, appealing to bodily appetite. It was pleasing to the eyes, attractive, desirable, alluring, it promised wisdom, the glory of being like God. Three temptations wrapped into one deadly package. Our first parents fell for it, and we continue to do likewise.

Jesus, the new Adam, faced those same three temptations in the wilderness and conquered them all. The devil come to Him when He was weakest, after forty days of fasting, teasing Jesus to turn stones to bread, to feed His hunger, to satisfy Himself, to put His physical needs first. Jesus responded with the Word of God: "One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus taught us that fasting is not just about skipping meals. It is about declaring that God matters more than our appetites. It is about saying "no" to the immediate gratification the world constantly places before us. Every time we feel that hunger pang during Lent, every time we resist that chocolate or that extra snack, we are training our souls to depend on God rather than on worldly satisfaction.

Next the devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple urging Him to throw Himself off to prove  He was someone special, to force God to act, to test God’s promises. This is spiritual pride disguised as faith, the temptation to use God for our own glory rather than to glorify God. Jesus cut through it with Scripture: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." This is where prayer comes in. True prayer is not about making demands of God or showing off our spirituality. True prayer is humble submission. It is saying, "Not my will, but Yours be done." During Lent, when we dedicate extra time to prayer, when we attend Stations of the Cross, when we spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, we learn to humble ourselves before our Creator, rejecting the pride that says we know better than God.

Finally, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in their splendour, calling Jesus to worship him so that all would be His. Power, prestige, wealth, control. Everything the world says matters, everything our culture worships. Jesus responded with clarity: "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” This is why we give alms during Lent. When we share our resources with those in need, when we support the poor, when we contribute to charitable works, we are declaring that material possessions do not own us. We are saying that worldly glory is nothing compared to the glory of serving God. We are breaking the devil's hold on our hearts by opening our hands in generosity.

Jesus defeated every temptation with Scripture, with the Word of God from Deuteronomy, the book that describes Israel's forty years wandering in the desert. Where Israel failed their testing, Jesus succeeded. Where Adam fell, the new Adam stood firm. Now Jesus invites us to share in His victory. This is what Lent is about. It is our own desert experience, our time to fast, to pray, to give. Our opportunity to face down the temptations that assault us daily. The devil tempts us through material things, the endless pursuit of more possessions, more comfort, more pleasure. He tempts us through spiritual pride, the desire to be recognised, admired, praised. He tempts us through worldly power, the craving for control, influence, status. We have the same weapons Jesus used. We have prayer, direct communion with God. We have fasting, the discipline that trains our wills and reminds us that God alone satisfies. We have almsgiving, the generosity that breaks the chains of greed and selfishness. We have the Word of God, Scripture that cuts through every lie the devil tells. God never permits us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Every time we overcome a temptation, even a small one, we grow stronger. Every time we choose prayer over distraction, fasting over indulgence, giving over hoarding, we become more like Jesus. We become more the people God created us to be.

During these forty days, let us enter the desert with Jesus, examine our consciences daily and bring our sins to the Sacrament of Confession. Let us forgive those who have hurt us and seek forgiveness from those we have wounded. Let us distance ourselves from the noise and chaos of the world and listen to the voice of God speaking in Scripture and in the silence of our hearts. Let us look at ourselves through God's eyes and see what needs to change. Let us say “yes” to God and “no” to Satan and all his empty promises. That is what this season is for. Lent is not about misery or deprivation. It is about transformation, becoming who we are meant to be, preparing our hearts for the great celebration of the resurrection of our Lord at Easter.

The desert awaits. Jesus is calling us to follow Him there. Accept His invitation, fast, pray, and give with all our hearts. Let us use this holy season to draw closer to God than ever before.

God Bless Brendan