LENT WEEK I [YR. A] (February 22, 2026) Gen 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11. By: Rev. Fr. Clifford Atta Anim.

Lent, A Season of Spiritual Battle and Renewal

Lent is a sacred season of intense spiritual preparation. For forty days, the Church invites us to walk with Christ into the desert, where He fasted, prayed, and faced temptation before beginning His public ministry. It is a time to repent sincerely, renew our lives, and prepare to celebrate Easter with the Risen Lord who conquered sin and death through His suffering, death, and Resurrection.

Today’s readings remind us that temptation is a constant reality. We are tempted by the devil, by worldly values, and by our own selfish desires. Victory over temptation does not happen automatically. It requires cooperation with God’s grace through prayer, self-control, and charity.

Scripture Lessons

The first reading from the Book of Genesis presents what we may call the original temptation. The serpent tells Adam and Eve, “You will be like gods.” At its core, this temptation was not merely about eating forbidden fruit. It was about independence from God, deciding for oneself what is good and evil without reference to the Creator. Adam and Eve were free. They could choose obedience and trust, or self-assertion and distrust. Their choice fractured their relationship with God and introduced sin and death into human history.

In contrast, today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew shows Jesus confronting temptation in the desert and overcoming it. Where Adam failed in a garden of abundance, Jesus triumphs in a desert of hunger. After forty days of fasting, the tempter urges Him to turn stones into bread. The suggestion seems reasonable. Yet Jesus recognizes the deeper trap, to reduce His mission to self-satisfaction and to mistrust the Father’s providence. He answers with Scripture, affirming that life depends first on God’s Word.

Next, the devil tempts Jesus to throw Himself from the Temple parapet, twisting Scripture to suggest that God must rescue Him. This is a temptation to test God, to demand proof instead of living in trust. Again, Jesus responds with Scripture, refusing to manipulate the Father.

Finally, Jesus is offered power and glory over all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. This is the temptation of idolatry, trading fidelity for influence and success. Jesus decisively rejects it, declaring that God alone is to be worshiped and served.

In the second reading, Saint Paul reflects on the contrast between Adam and Christ. Through Adam’s disobedience came sin and death. Through Christ’s obedience comes justification and restored relationship with God. Jesus succeeds where Adam failed, not by force, but by faithful obedience.

Life Messages

1) We are called to confront and conquer temptation as Jesus did

Each of us faces temptations to comfort without sacrifice, success without integrity, and recognition without humility. The desert experience teaches us that strength comes from communion with God. Jesus overcame temptation through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God. Lent calls us to do the same. Participation in the Eucharist, regular prayer, Scripture reading, and acts of self-denial are not empty rituals. They are spiritual weapons that strengthen the soul.

2) We are called to grow in holiness through prayer, reconciliation, and sharing

Lent invites us to make deliberate space for God each day, speaking to Him honestly and listening through Scripture. It urges us to practice penance, not as punishment, but as loving reparation and discipline. Reconciliation with God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores grace and peace. Reconciliation with others heals relationships and removes resentment. Charity, expressed through almsgiving and humble service, transforms our fasting into love.

Lent is not merely about giving things up. It is about becoming stronger in faith, deeper in love, and free from sin. By walking with Christ in the desert, we prepare to stand with Him in the joy of Easter victory. God bless you.