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Gospel Reading for February 22, 2026 – Matthew 4: 1-11
FOOLISH
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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How FOOLISH the devil was to imagine that he could tempt the Son of God simply because he had become man. God can never be enticed into wrongdoing, for he is the very source of all goodness—just as the devil is the source of all evil.
From the beginning, the devil has sought to destroy what belongs to God, as seen in the temptation of Adam and Eve. Yet, he can never triumph over God. In his boundless love, the Father sent his only Son to save humankind from eternal damnation and to restore what sin had broken.
During this Lenten season, may we never forget the immense love God has shown us. When we find ourselves in the desert—facing trials, doubts, and temptations—let us not allow the devil to have his way.
Lord Jesus, teach us to stand firm in our faith and never allow the enemy to prevail over us!
