Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent, 2026

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, Psalm 51; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.

During Lent we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and look to Him to help us overcome any spiritual roadblocks that would hinder our progress. In today’s Gospel, Jesus successfully met the temptations of Satan by calling to mind God’s words in Sacred Scripture and applying them to each of the three situations by which the devil tempted Him.

In the first temptation Satan urged Jesus to satisfy His hunger by using extraordinary power, which He could have done. But in humility Jesus lowered Himself by quoting the words of the prophet Moses in Deuteronomy (8:3): “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” God’s Word must also be our daily bread.

The second temptation was an appeal to pride and presumption. The enemy dared Jesus to carry out a dangerous and unnecessary act of throwing Himself from the top of the temple so that God would save Him. Again, the Lord chose the direct route written in Scripture which shows trust in God instead of testing God: “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test. (Deut 6:16).”

The third temptation aimed to arouse greed and idolatry. In today’s world, materialism caused by the great abundance in developed countries like ours can provoke the same temptation. Jesus simply lifted His Heart to God for His answer to our ancient enemy: “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve (Deut. 6:13).”

Jesus was uniquely prepared to refute Satan, and He has given us examples of how to proceed when our hearts experience the attraction of sin. Jesus listened to God’s Word and chose to follow it. We can all practice this in times of temptation. Pausing for even a tiny interval, the Holy Spirit will remind us of a word of wisdom which will direct us to do God’s will. You may already be accustomed to opening your Bible when you need a word of advice as many people do.

As this Lenten season of renewal begins, we are invited to reflect on the many blessings we enjoy—food, security, and material abundance. In gratitude to God, may we respond not only with words of thanks, but with generous hearts, reaching out to help those who are in need.

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.