Homily 1st Sunday of Lent Year A I Homily 22 February 2026 Year A

 

https://youtu.be/b-l5HLUL9FY

As we begin the season of Lent on this First Sunday in Year A, the readings invite us to

look honestly at temptation, sin, and grace. We are reminded that while human

weakness is real, God’s mercy and faithfulness are even greater.

The Genesis creation stories were written for the people of Israel to explain who God is,

who human beings are, and why the world is both beautiful and broken. These stories

were shaped in a time when Israel lived among cultures that believed humans were

slaves of the gods. Genesis offers a very different vision: one God who lovingly creates,

breathes life, and desires relationship with humanity. Genesis paints a very tender

picture of creation. God forms the human person from the dust of the ground and

breathes life into him. This shows two important truths about us. We come from the

earth—we are fragile, limited, and dependent. Yet we also carry God’s breath within

us—we are precious, loved, and filled with divine life. Human dignity comes not from

power or achievement but from God’s loving touch. God gives freedom but also sets

limits, not to punish, but to protect life and trust. In the latter part of the narrative, the

serpent enters the story. The serpent does not deny God; instead, it twists God’s word

and creates doubt. The real temptation is not about eating fruit but about 

control—wanting to decide for ourselves what is good and evil, without God. The

humans begin to distrust God’s goodness and believe that God is holding something

back from them. When they eat the fruit, their eyes are opened, but not in the way they

expected. Instead of becoming like God, they become aware of their nakedness and

feel shame. Trust is broken—with God, with each other, and within themselves. This is

the tragedy of Eden: not disobedience alone, but the loss of trust and relationship. This

is our story too. We still struggle between trusting God and choosing our own way. Lent

invites us to return to the garden of Eden—not to a perfect past, but to a renewed

relationship—where we remember that we are dust, yet deeply loved, and that true life

comes from trusting God’s breath within us.

In the second reading taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, Paul speaks about

two important figures: Adam and Jesus Christ. Through them, Paul helps us understand

sin, grace, and God’s great gift of salvation. Paul explains that sin entered the world

through one man, Adam, and with sin came death. Adam’s disobedience broke the

relationship between humanity and God. As a result, suffering, weakness, and death

became part of human life. This does not mean that people are punished for Adam’s

personal sin, but that all human beings now live in a world affected by sin. We

experience this brokenness every day—in selfishness, injustice, and fear. But Paul does

not stop with Adam. He quickly moves to Jesus Christ, whom he presents as the new

Adam. If one man’s disobedience brought sin and death, then one man’s obedience 

brings grace and life. What was lost through Adam’s distrust is restored through Christ’s

obedience. Where sin increased, God’s grace became even greater. This is the heart of

the Good News. Jesus did not simply cancel sin; he overcame it through love,

obedience, and the cross. Through his death and resurrection, Christ offers forgiveness,

healing, and a new way of life. Paul reminds us that grace is not earned—it is a gift.

God freely offers us new life through Jesus. This passage invites us to reflect on our

own lives. We all know the power of sin—how one wrong choice can hurt many people.

But we are also reminded that one act of love and obedience can bring healing and

hope. When we choose Christ, we choose life, sin does not have the final word.

Many years before joining the Jesuits, when I was working in an office, there was an

occasion when we had to stay back late at night. It happened to be the season of Lent,

and I had decided to fast from all non-vegetarian food. Now, I must admit, I am a foodie

by nature. As the night grew longer and fatigue set in, my colleagues decided to order

dinner. And of all things, they ordered the best biryani and kakori kebabs. The aroma

filled the room. Hunger, tiredness, and temptation came together at that very moment. I

won’t tell you whether I gave in or not—but I can tell you this: it felt like a battlefield

inside me. That experience helped me understand something important about

temptation. It rarely comes when we are strong and prepared. More often, temptation

comes when we are tired, weak, or least expecting it. That is exactly where today’s

Gospel places Jesus. In the gospel taken from Matthew, we see Jesus facing

temptation in the wilderness. After his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert

and fasts for forty days and forty nights. He is hungry, alone, and physically weak. This

is when the devil appears. This reminds us of an important truth: it is true that God

knows us, but at the same time even the devil knows us. He knows our weaknesses. He

knows where we are likely to fall.

It is important not only to describe the three temptations of Jesus but to recognise them

in our own lives. Temptation is often subtle and reasonable, using good things like

comfort, safety, or success to slowly pull us away from trusting God. We too try to turn

stones into bread when we seek quick solutions instead of patient faith, or we test God

by expecting help without responsibility. Like Jesus, we are tempted by power, control,

and approval. Each temptation tries to pull Jesus away from trusting God fully. What is

striking is how Jesus responds. He does not argue. He does not show off his power.

Jesus relies completely on God’s Word. Each time, he answers with Scripture. God’s

Word becomes his strength, his shield, and his guide. Jesus shows us that faithfulness

to God is more important than comfort, popularity, or power. This passage teaches us

something very real about our own lives. Temptations do not disappear just because we

are good or religious. They often come when we are tired, stressed, or feeling empty.

And like Jesus, we must remember that we cannot overcome our weaknesses by

ourselves. Willpower alone is not enough. We are called to rely on God—through 

prayer, Scripture, and trust. When we allow God’s Word to shape our choices, we grow

stronger. Lent especially invites us to face our temptations honestly and to turn back to

God. The passage reminds us that while temptation is real, God’s grace is stronger.

When we cling to God, we are never alone in the struggle. This Lent, let us stop trying

to be strong on our own, and learn again to trust the God who breathes life into our

dust. May God bless us all.