News & Events
First Sunday of Lent
Posted in News
22nd February 2026
Gospel text: Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.”
But he replied, “Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. “If you are the Son of God” he said “throw yourself down; for scripture says: He will put you in his angels’ charge, and they will support you on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, “Scripture also says: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “I will give you all these” he said, “if you fall at my feet and worship me.” Then Jesus replied, “Be off, Satan! For scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.” Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.
Homily
We begin our celebration of Lent this week. Notice that I used the word celebration. We are not accustomed to use the word “celebration” to describe Lent. Lent is supposed to be a time of penance, of sacrifice of wilfully doing or going without things that we like. However, the Gospel is always good news, and good news is always cause for celebration and thanksgiving.
What then is the good news in the story of Jesus’ temptations? The good news is that the Church, good mother that she is, brings us back to some essential truths which are necessary for our happiness, and which are necessary for us to fulfill God’s requests.
The first is that this world is not the purpose of our life. This world is not our final destiny. We have something infinitely greater to look forward to. We lose sight of that sometimes and we begin to act as if we find our true happiness here on earth. So, we search for true happiness in pleasure, be it in eating or drinking or partying or sex or dominating others and we justify these things by saying that we all have our needs.
Jesus dealt with that temptation when the devil presented him with stones to turn into bread. He had his needs. He was hungry. He had fasted for forty days, but He subjected his needs however to God’s word. He tells the tempter “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The question for us is do we accept that Word?:
At times for various reasons, be these reasons, circumstances of birth or feelings of rejection, or inadequacy, we hunger for recognition and so often if that recognition does not come, we are depressed and angry with ourselves and others. At times we do all sorts of silly things to become the centre of attraction. In short, we try to make ourselves the centre of the universe. Unconsciously we put ourselves up against God. We become the centre of our universe and not God.
When the tempter tries that trick on Jesus, Jesus refuses to set himself up in opposition to God, He replies “Scripture also says: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.” Do we seek recognition so fiercely that we destroy others to be recognized.
At other times we think that we will find happiness in bending others to our will. Our thoughts, our desires, what we want must take precedence over all others. We do this in our homes, our clubs, we see it in governments, we see it in politicians. How often truth is sacrificed to win a debate, how often people are destroyed to win an election, how often we see power being used to pay back what is perceived to be betrayal. We see it in the way some spouses treat each other, we see it unfortunately in the church. We forget that the Christian leader is characterized by a spirit of servanthood.
When the tempter tries to get Jesus into that trap, Jesus replies “Be off, Satan! For scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
This is probably the worst of the temptations. Jesus rejects this temptation directly and harshly, “Be off, Satan” he says. I suppose this is the temptation which is most anti God. We don’t just want to be the centre of the universe for ourselves, We want to take the place of God and decide what must be done to the lives of others. It was for this sin that Lucifer was thrown out of heaven. He wanted to be like God. It is interesting that when the temptations are conquered Jesus finds peace “The devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.” We too can find the happiness and peace that we desire but we find it as Jesus did.
Today then we celebrate those who have found their true happiness in God’s word, in having God as the centre of their lives and in leading others through servanthood. There are many models for us. All the saints, those to whom we have devotions, those whose names we carry. May we follow their example this Lent and continue firmly on the journey to true happiness in the life to come.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, your son Jesus came to the earth and showed us how to live. He showed us that love is the only thing that can bring happiness to the world. We are weak lord and SATAN seeks to use our weakness to embarrass You, our God. Help us Lord Jesus to be strong, help us to find our strength in the FATHER as you did when Satan tempted you. Help us to rely on your word which saves and heals. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother and all the Angels and Saints. Amen.
