1st Sunday of Lent 2026
My dear friends in Christ,
On this First Sunday of Lent, the readings draw us back to the very beginning of our human story in Genesis—especially the first reading and the second reading: that cherished, tender moment when God formed man from the dust of the ground, breathed His own life into him, and placed him in a garden of paradise, only for the serpent to slither in with deceit, whispering doubts and desires that fractured trust in God. The woman saw that the fruit was good to eat, pleasing to the eyes and desirable for wisdom; she took it, ate it, and gave some to her husband. They disobeyed God, who had instructed them on what to do while in the garden.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT DISOBEDIENCE
In that single act of disobedience, sin entered the world, shame covered their nakedness, and paradise was lost.
THE CONNECTION
Here lies the profound connection: the ancient fall of our first parents echoes directly in the Gospel, where Jesus, the new Adam, is led by the Spirit into the desert wilderness — not to a garden of abundance like Paradise, but to a place of hunger and trial. After forty days of fasting, the same tempter (Satan) approaches, seeking to exploit vulnerability once more. Yet, where Adam and Eve yielded to the lure of forbidden fruit, Christ stands firm, reversing the tragedy with perfect obedience and love.
THE TEMPTATIONS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS
Consider the first temptation: "Command these stones to become bread." How touching—this strikes at our deepest vulnerabilities! Satan preys on our hungers, not just for food, but for security, for escape from the pains of daily life. In our Christian walk, how often do we face this? The single mother skipping meals to feed her children, tempted to despair; the worker buried in debt, lured by dishonest shortcuts; the soul starved for affection, grasping at fleeting pleasures. Yet Christ, with a voice full of compassion, replies: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
What are the implications for our daily life? Profound. As we hurry each day to attend to our normal routines, let us not chase only earthly bread—jobs, comforts, and distractions—but let us equally hunger for the spiritual bread made manifest through Scripture and prayer. We must therefore hunger and learn to turn to the Eucharist, where Christ becomes our true Bread, transforming ordinary meals into moments of grace.
Then comes the second temptation: the leap from the temple — "Throw yourself down; angels will catch you." What presumption, wrapped in piety. More shocking is to see the devil quoting Scripture to justify recklessness, mirroring our own temptations to test God in daily trials. Those are the moments we risk our health in addictions and whisper to ourselves, "God will forgive"; the family that neglects prudence in finances, assuming miracles will follow; the heart hardened by resentment, presuming grace without repentance. In Christian daily life this calls us to humble obedience: plan wisely, pray earnestly, but never demand spectacles from heaven. This Lent, examine your presumptions in quiet reflection; confess them, and let God's gentle hand guide your steps, turning potential falls into walks of trust.
Finally, the last temptation: kingdoms of the world — "All this power I will give you, if you worship me." For me this is the ultimate heartbreak. This is the gift the world offers us daily: the promise of glory without the Cross, power without purity.
In our generation this temptation wounds deeply: the ambition that sacrifices family for career; the compromise of ethics for success; the idol of social-media fame that eclipses quiet holiness, especially for our young ones. Yes — Satan promises the world, but this offer comes at the cost of our souls.
Christ’s firm rebuke to him was, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Those same words move us to tears of conviction. They imply to us Christians that in every Christian day we must prioritize worship above all. Worship here does not mean only singing, no — it goes deeper than that: start with Mass, end with gratitude. Let it reshape your routines. Choose integrity over advancement, kindness over conquest; and when power tempts, remember that true dominion comes through service, as Christ washed feet before ascending the throne of heaven.
Finally, my beloved in Christ, these temptations are not ancient echoes; they are the battles of our everyday life. But here is the good news: through Adam’s fall sin entered our daily existence; through Christ’s victory grace floods it anew, as Saint Paul assured us that we have been justified because of that single act of Christ. Today, therefore, I humbly invite you to unite your small sufferings and pains—the skipped dessert, the extra prayer, the act of charity—to His own desert triumph. In doing so your Christian life blooms: hungers become holy, risks become reliance, and ambitions become adoration. May Our Lady, whose heart was pierced yet full of grace, wrap you in her mantle, guiding your daily steps toward Easter joy. Amen.
Fr. Emmanuel prays for you.