My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I am grateful for the opportunity to share this reflection with you as we begin our Lenten journey. The readings for this First Sunday of Lent (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 | Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 | Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19 | Matthew 4:1-11) draw us into the great drama of sin and grace, fall and redemption, weakness and victory.
In the first reading from Genesis, we see the beauty of God’s creation. The Lord forms man from the dust of the earth and breathes into him the breath of life. We are not accidents. We are formed with care and filled with God’s own breath. We are created for communion with Him. Yet in the garden of Eden, temptation enters. The serpent sows doubt: “Did God really say?” The attack is subtle. It begins with questioning God’s word and ends with disobedience.
The woman sees that the fruit is pleasing, desirable, and promising wisdom. The man joins her. Their eyes are opened, but not in the way they expected. Instead of becoming like God, they experience shame and separation. Sin promises freedom but delivers bondage. It promises wisdom but brings confusion. It promises life but leads to death.
Psalm 51 becomes our prayer today: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” Lent begins with humility. We do not point fingers at Adam and Eve. We recognize ourselves in them. We too have listened to voices that distort God’s truth. We too have chosen what looks good over what is good. We too know the weight of guilt and the longing for a clean heart.
Saint Paul, in the Letter to the Romans, offers hope. Through one man, sin entered the world. But through one man, Jesus Christ, grace overflows. Where Adam disobeyed, Christ obeyed. Where Adam grasped, Christ surrendered. Where Adam brought condemnation, Christ brings acquittal and life. Lent is not only about confronting sin. It is about receiving grace. The gift is greater than the transgression.
The Gospel shows us Jesus in the desert. He fasts for forty days. He is hungry. He is weak. And in that weakness, the tempter comes. The first temptation appeals to physical need: “Turn stones into bread.” The second appeals to pride: “Throw yourself down.” The third appeals to power and glory: “All these I will give you.” These are not ancient temptations alone. They are ours. The desire for comfort, recognition, and control can easily take the place of trust in God.
Jesus responds each time with the Word of God. “One does not live on bread alone.” “You shall not put the Lord to the test.” “The Lord, your God, shall you worship.” He does not argue. He stands firm in truth. The desert reveals what fills the heart. In Adam’s garden, there was abundance yet disobedience. In Christ’s desert, there is hunger yet fidelity.
Lent invites us into our own desert. It may be a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It may be a time when we confront habits that keep us far from God. The desert is not a place of abandonment. The Spirit leads Jesus there. And after the struggle, angels minister to Him. When we remain faithful, God strengthens us.
This Sunday sets the tone for the weeks ahead. We acknowledge our sin with honesty. We ask for mercy with confidence. We face temptation with the Word of God in our hearts. Above all, we fix our eyes on Christ, the new Adam, whose obedience restores what was lost.
As we begin this sacred season, let us ask the Lord for a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. Let us choose life over death, truth over deception, and worship of God over every false promise. May this Lent be a time of real conversion, so that at Easter we may rejoice not only in the Lord’s victory, but in the new life He has awakened within us. Amen.
