February 22, 2026
1st Sunday of Lent
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We have already begun our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday by going back to the very beginning.
In the Book of Genesis, we hear about the creation of our first parents and how temptation entered the world. Adam and Eve were given everything they needed. They walked with God. Yet the serpent planted doubt: “Did God really say…?” That small seed of mistrust opened the door to sin. They reached for what was not given, and harmony was broken.
That story is not just about the past. It is about us.
Psalm 51 gives us the right response: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” Lent is not about pretending we are perfect. It is about honestly admitting we need mercy. And the beautiful truth we hear in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is this: where sin increased, grace increased all the more. No failure, no addiction, no broken relationship, no long-standing habit is stronger than the grace of Christ.
In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus faces temptation in the desert. He fasts for forty days and forty nights. He is hungry, tired, and alone. The devil tempts Him with comfort, power, and pride — the same temptations we face today.
Turn stones into bread — satisfy yourself first.
Throw yourself down — make God prove Himself.
Worship me — take a shortcut to power and success.
Jesus resists every temptation, not with arguments, but with trust in the Father and the Word of God. Where Adam failed, Jesus remains faithful. The question is whether we will trust God in the moment of testing.
Lent invites us into the desert with Jesus. In our busy lives, that desert might mean turning off the noise, stepping away from constant entertainment, limiting social media, fasting from unnecessary spending, or setting aside quiet time for prayer. It may mean going to Confession after many years. It may mean forgiving someone we have held resentment toward.
We do not enter Lent alone or discouraged. We enter it with hope. Christ has already won the victory. Our small sacrifices unite us to His greater sacrifice.
This week, I encourage you to choose one concrete practice in each area:
Prayer – Set aside 10 minutes each day for quiet conversation with the Lord.
Fasting – Give up something that creates space for God, not just chocolate.
Almsgiving – Help someone in need, whether through a donation, a meal, your time or just being there and listening to someone in need.
Let this Lent be real. May this holy season draw us closer to Christ, who remained faithful in the desert so that we might share in His victory.
With prayers for you and your families,
Fr. Sunil Kumar Pallela