We see this unfold in the garden in Eden where the cunning serpent “lured and enticed” Adam and Eve. Seduced by their desire to have their eyes opened and be “like gods who know what is good and what is evil,” Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Their disordered desire conceived and brought forth sin that gave birth to death. Adam did not persevere in temptation and so, “through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men. . . even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam.” However, “through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous. . . [and] come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.”
Jesus, the “high priest who. . . [sympathizes] with our weaknesses. . . who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin,” allowed himself to be tempted by the devil so that we, who follow after him, can “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:15). Saint Matthew tells us that the devil tempted Jesus when he was physically weak from hunger, telling him to “command that these stones become loaves of bread.” However, Jesus did not back away from his fast, showing us that we do not “live on bread alone” but that “every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” provides us with the nourishment we need because Jesus has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Then, the devil tempted Jesus spiritually so as to make him doubt his faith and trust in God, telling him to “command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you.” However, Jesus was intimately connected to the Father through prayer and, thus, set an example for us of complete obedience and trust in our Father in heaven, saying, “you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Finally, the devil tempted Jesus with power, control, and worldly glory when he “showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence.” However, Jesus understood the mission that his Father entrusted to him. Christ “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28) and, thus, shows us the path of love over pride, to will the good of another over our own desires.
Whereas Adam did not persevere over temptation but succumbed to his desire in the garden in Eden, Jesus went into the desert and defeated the devil with his human will. Recall that during his agony in Gethsemane, “Jesus returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41). By going to the desert and overcoming temptations by the devil with his human will, Jesus prepares us for when the devil tests our faithfulness to God. Moreover, he gives us hope that we are not alone in our battles. Christ tells us that “[in] the world [we] will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. . .” (John 16:33) and “the ruler of this world [Satan] will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (12:31-32).
My sisters and brothers in Christ, Jesus shows us how we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can overcome temptation and sin, through our Lent observances of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and remain faithful to God and say to the devil: “Get away, Satan!” The devil will tempt us with things of this world. Yet, by faith, we know that no matter how good they are, the things of this world will never satisfy our deepest yearning. [It is as Fr.. Michael told the couples preparing for marriage, who are seated up front here. We have a hole that can only be filed by God. It would be unfair of us to ask our spouse to fill a hole that only God can fill.] Let us listen to Jesus and “seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Finally, as we continue our journey in the desert with our Jeus this Lent, let us also remember that we “became a living being” because the Lord God formed us and blew into us His “breath of life.” In Baptism, we became beloved sons and daughters of the Father, through Jesus Christ, who after he was baptized, “he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (3:16-17). We are beloved sons and beloved daughters of our Father in heaven. That is our identity in Christ Jesus our Lord and it compels us to be kind to one another.
In his Message for Lent, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, invites us to a “very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. . . [striving] to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome” (2/5/2026). The Holy Father encourages us to “strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families. . . and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace. . . [and] contribute to building a civilization of love” (id).
May the Holy Spirit walk with us throughout this Lenten season. May we grow closer to Christ and become peacemakers and a light to all people. Amen. (Bishop Garcia, 2/18/2026).
Listen to the #podcast from Saturday 5:00 Mass: https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/homily-for-the-first-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2222026/
Listen to the #podcast from Sunday 5:00 Mass: https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/homily-for-the-first-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2222026-sunday-500-mass/
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