2026 Cycle A - 1st Sunday in Lent

Readings

1st Sunday in Lent

Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7; Psalm 51: 3-6, 12-14, 17; Rom 5: 12-19 or Rom 5:12, 17-19; Matthew 4: 1-11

Homily Theme

Temptation is not a Sin

Temptation is not a sin but it will lead to sin, if we entertain it. When we entertain it, it will make an evil appear as a good. Satan tempted Eve, even though she resisted the first temptation, she entertained it and then it seemed good to her and pleasing to the eye. Sin is saying no to God. Eve said no to God and enticed Adam to do the same. They both sinned in spite of the fact they new what God had said. Do not eat of the fruit of that tree or you will die. This was the original sin because it was the first sin.

Think of your own sins, first comes the temptation. Did you wrestle with it until it appeared as a good to you? Killing of the unborn is a sin but over half the population has rationalized it to make it seem not evil, but good to them. They call it Pro-choice: but every sin is a choice. Those who vote for Pro-choice candidates also choose it as a good: that is what sin is about, making the wrong choices. It is saying no to God. Nobody chooses evil and calls it evil we first make it appear as a good, so that we may choose it as a good. Adultery, fornication, cheating, lying: this is something other people do: when we do it, it appears as a good to us. We have also looked at our choices and they were pleasing to our eyes. We sinned.

How can I prove that temptation is not a sin? The proof is in today’s Gospel. Jesus was tempted three times. He has never sinned but He was tempted.  The devil even quotes scripture to tempt Jesus, but Jesus responded with scripture in rebuttal. For it to be a temptation to Jesus it had to seem good or it would not have been a temptation. What about the third temptation? How could Satan make kneeling to him in adoration even be remotely possible?  How could that ever seem as a good? 

Several years ago, a mother came to me about her son. She was sure her son was destined for hell because he was living a very sinful life. She wanted to know if it were OK if she offered to go to hell in his place. I was amazed by such a unique temptation. What love she had for her son? However, it would be a sin even though it seemed good to her. I could see why she could be tempted though.  Remember this the next time you are temped

Satan reminded Jesus that His mission was to save humanity. He offered Him a sure way to do it.  He would release all of us for a mere genuflection. The Passion would not save all mankind because most would remain in the devils grip. This temptation shows us the extent of the infinite love of Jesus for all of us. He must have given it a thought or it wouldn’t have been a temptation: for a mere second it must have seemed good to Him, since He loves us more than any mother. His temptation was not a sin. Neither is yours if you resist it as Jesus did.

Be merciful Lord for we have sinned.