THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

First Sunday in Lent

22 February 2026

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

The Gospel reading for today is from Saint Matthew 4:1-11. This reading follows upon the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. There is a powerful lesson for us in the fact that, after Baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted. Saint John Chrysostom said this:

"Who, therefore, among you who is even more tempted after Baptism should not be troubled. It is for this that you have received arms: not to stand at ease, but to fight. God will not then ward you off from temptation, and this He does for many reasons. First, that you may so learn that you are now stronger. Then, lest you be exalted by the greatness of His gifts. Thirdly, that the devil may receive proof you have wholly renounced him. Fourthly, that by this trial you may become yet stronger. Fifthly, that you may receive an indication of the treasure you have received: for the devil would not so pursue you, to tempt you, did he not see that you had now come to a higher dignity."

The temptations of the demons are directed towards those who have something to lose. The devils do not tempt their own or those who are already lost. Recognizing that being tempted is not a sign of being lost, but rather a sign of striving for goodness, can reassure us. Understanding this helps us see temptation as an opportunity for growth rather than a mark of failure.

It is easy to become discouraged or disheartened when we experience temptations, but truly, we should be encouraged by this. It is because we have something good that we can be tempted to lose it. We should instead rise to meet the temptations with strength and vigor. We have the grace of God on our side, and we can do all things in Him Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Our Lenten fast has begun, and Jesus has set the time for it by His forty-day fast. Jesus did not extend His fast more than the fasts of Moses or Elias. In this, we see that He hid His Divinity to present His humanity to us. It is in His humanity that we are to follow Him. It is in following His Humanity that we find His Divinity. The temptation is great to plead the weakness of humanity to refuse to follow Him in this Lenten fast. Jesus did not go beyond what others were capable of, and so He invites us to the same fast.

Forty days is also very symbolic. There are ten Commandments, which we can transgress in four different ways (thought, word, action, omission). This brings the total to forty types of sin for us to atone for. We also see that our Lenten fast is approximately one-tenth of the year. When we subtract the six Sundays from the Season of Lent, we have about one-tenth of the three-hundred and sixty-five days of the year.

Fasting is beneficial for both our bodies and our souls. Fasting gives our digestion a rest period and helps to clear our bodies of whatever burdens we have accumulated. There is no doubt that after a fast period, we feel better. This is true of our souls as well. As we discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection to our wills, we gain mastery over ourselves. Our wills become stronger. Temptations lose some of their influence over us.

The major types of temptation fall into three classes, as seen in the three temptations Jesus overcame, and they show us how we, too, can overcome them. The first was the hunger or desires of our bodies — our flesh. Our bodies are sustained by God more so than by food or any other of the necessities of our bodies. The second is pride and vanity. We must strive to remain humble and not rise to tempt God. Every sin of pride is not only rising against God as Lucifer has done, but is placing ourselves even above God. It is abusing God's mercy and love for us in a way that makes us God and makes God our servant. The third type of temptation is that of ownership, possession, greed, or avarice. While the devils appear to possess and control things in this world and are permitted to purchase souls with material things, we must remember that it is only an appearance. God made all things, and all things belong to God. The devils own nothing and can give nothing. All the things of this world are passing away. King Solomon most eloquently expresses this: I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Whatever the demons tempt us with, it is ultimately nothingness or emptiness.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!