1ST SUNDAY OF LENT 22ND FEBRUARY 2026

 At the beginning of Lent, the Church brings us back to the story of Adam and Eve. Their fall is not just an ancient event; it reflects our own experience. Temptation often begins subtly, with doubt about God’s goodness and trustworthiness. When humanity chooses disobedience, the result is shame and brokenness. Yet even then, God does not abandon His people. He cares for them and promises that evil will not ultimately prevail.

Saint Paul in the second reading , explains that this promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Adam represents humanity’s rebellion; through his disobedience, sin entered the world. But Christ, the new Adam, reverses that tragedy through loving obedience. Where Adam said “no,” Christ says “yes.” Through faith and baptism, we share in this restoration and are freed from the cycle of sin.

The Gospel shows Jesus in the desert, tested as Israel was tested and as Adam was tested. The Tempter easier paths are material comfort, spectacular signs, and worldly power. But Jesus rejects them all, choosing trust in the Father and fidelity to His mission. He reveals Himself as the faithful Son and the founder of a new People of God.

Lent, then, is our desert journey. It is a time to face our own temptations, to renew our trust in God’s Word, and to choose obedience over self-will. We do so with hope, knowing that Christ has already won the victory over sin and evil.

                                           Fr.  Jerome Otitoyomi Dukiya C.S.Sp