First Sunday of Lent February 22, 2026

Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11

Always we begin Lent by reflecting again on our experience of sin. The readings to invite us to wonder how sin ever happened in the world. The Book of Genesis is describing the inspired author’s understanding of how such a calamity could have affected all of us. Genesis is really an attempt to understand why it is that no humans seem to be free of sinfulness and brokenness.

When we reflect on the Gospel, we have to ask ourselves some strong questions. Have I ever wanted others to respect me? Have I wanted others to think highly of me? This is one of the temptations of Jesus. Have I ever been willing to trade something of value so that I could have something I really wanted? Have I been willing to sacrifice others in order to get what I wanted? Have I ever sort of sidestepped the law in anything so that I could get something I wanted? These are the kinds of questions that we can associate with turning stones into bread. What am I will to do for my own advancement? What am I willing to do to maintain a controlling power over others?

Perhaps many of us know that we are capable of these kinds of actions or other similar actions, even when we may not indulge in them all the time. We can also think of situations where a person is willing to play with evil for the sake of a hoped for good. Here I think of Endo’s novel “Silence” in which a missionary priest is willing to renounce his faith in the hopes that it will spare the lives of others. But it doesn’t, and that is so often a point that we would rather not hear. Our tradition is very clear that we cannot use evil to attain good. Today we like to stretch that a little bit and think that it isn’t so bad. And for sure, it is not so bad, but it is still bad. We compromise our values far too easily in the present age.

May this Lent bring us to a deeper awareness of Christ’s struggle with temptation and a deeper trust in Him when we are tempted. May we entrust all our sinfulness to the Lord with a confidence that He can transform us.

                    Fr. Terry         Wish you all A Joyful & Prayerful Holy season of Lent.