Reflection for February 22 First Sunday of Lent: Matthew 4:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

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Reflection:

Do we fight temptation when it comes to us, or do we quietly allow it to conquer our hearts?

When the devil thought he could overpower Jesus, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” But our Lord responded firmly, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Even in His hunger and weakness, Jesus remained in control. He did not allow His physical need to override His obedience to the Father. How about us? When we are tired, stressed, disappointed, or in need, how easily do we surrender our values? How quickly do we justify small compromises that slowly weaken our spiritual strength?

Temptation itself is not yet sin—but the moment we begin to entertain it, to dwell on it, and to welcome it into our thoughts, we open the door to falling. Let us be vigilant. Let us guard not only our actions but also our hearts and minds.

In the second temptation, the devil challenged Jesus to test God. How often do we do the same? Do we sometimes demand signs before we believe? Do we say, “Lord, if You do this for us, then we will trust You”? Yet true faith does not bargain with God. True faith rests in Him—even when we do not see, even when we do not fully understand. Blessed are we when we trust without demanding proof.

The third temptation speaks deeply to our present world—the temptation of wealth, power, and material comfort. Money in itself is not evil, but when we begin to cling to it, depend on it, and value it more than God, it quietly becomes our master. Let us ask ourselves: are we serving God, or are we unknowingly serving our possessions?

During this Lenten season, we will surely encounter temptations—subtle and obvious, small and great. The enemy may present them attractively, disguising them as harmless or even necessary. But we are not helpless. We have the Word of God. We have prayer. We have grace. We have Christ, who has already shown us how to overcome.

Let us stand firm. Let us choose obedience over convenience, trust over doubt, and holiness over temporary pleasure. —Marino J. Dasmarinas