FIRST SUNDAY -- February 22, 2026

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Readings:

• Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 – The creation of man and the fall in the Garden of Eden.
• Psalm 51 – A prayer of repentance: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
• Romans 5:12-19 – Through Adam came sin and death, but through Christ comes grace and life.
• Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus is tempted in the desert but resists by relying on God’s Word.

Reflection

The first Sunday of Lent invites us to confront our own temptations and weaknesses honestly. The readings remind us that Lent is not about despair over sin but about hope in Christ’s victory. Where Adam failed, Christ triumphed. Our journey through Lent is a chance to share in that triumph by deepening prayer, fasting, and reliance on God’s Word.

In Genesis, we hear of humanity’s beginning — created from dust, given life by God’s breath, placed in a garden of abundance. Yet, through disobedience, Adam and Eve grasped at what was forbidden, and sin entered the world. Like Adam and Eve, we often grasp at what seems good but leads us away from God. Yet Christ shows us another way: resisting temptation by trusting in God’s promises.

Psalm 51 gives us the right response to our human weakness: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” It is not denial or excuses, but humble repentance that opens the door to God’s mercy. The cry of Psalm 51 is the cry of every heart that knows its weakness yet longs for restoration. Mercy is greater than failures. As such, Psalm 51 becomes our prayer during Lent—acknowledging our sins, asking for mercy, and seeking renewal.

St. Paul, in Romans 5:12-19, shows us the great contrast: through Adam came sin and death, but through Christ comes grace and life. Where Adam failed, Christ triumphed. Where disobedience brought condemnation, obedience brought salvation. This is the heart of the Gospel—our fall is not the end of the story, because Christ has written a new chapter of redemption.

Finally, the Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11) sets the tone for the Lenten season. Jesus’ forty days in the desert mirror the forty days of Lent, inviting us into a time of prayer, fasting, and reliance on God. Jesus’ forty days in the desert mirror the forty days of Lent, inviting us into a time of prayer, fasting, and reliance on God.

In Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus in the desert, tempted just as Adam was in the garden. The devil tempts Him to turn stones into bread, to test God, and to accept worldly glory. But unlike Adam, Jesus resists.  He does not argue with the devil on human terms; He relies on the Word of God and exercises humility before God. He depends on God for victory. His victory over temptation is the beginning of our victory too, for He shows us that fidelity to God’s word is stronger than any lie.

We too encounter struggles — whether with comfort, pride, control, envy, malice, jealousy or greed. We are all tempted in many ways.

So, what does this mean for us? In essence, Lent is our desert journey. It is not simply about recognizing our weakness—it is about remembering that Christ has already overcome. It is not about proving our strength but about rediscovering our dependence on God’s Word and grace. We will face temptation, but we are not powerless. With God’s Word in our hearts, with repentance on our lips, and with Christ as our strength, we can walk from the garden of sin into the desert of grace, and finally into the joy of resurrection. The victory of Jesus over temptation foreshadows the triumph of Easter, reminding us that faithfulness leads to life.

So let us enter this season with courage. When temptation whispers, let us answer with God’s Word. When sin weighs us down, let us turn to His mercy. And when we feel weak, let us remember: Christ has already won the victory.