Gospel for February 22 2026 – Matthew 4:1-11
Gospel Reflections for February 22 2026
Temptations come and go
Lent always begins with this story of Satan cleverly tempting Jesus at the end of His 40-day retreat in the desert.
The devil knows exactly how to tempt you as well, which is always when you are most vulnerable.
Satan waits until the end of Our Lord’s 40-day journey when Jesus is starving for food, feeling weak, and feeling alone. Satan targets Jesus precisely in those three areas of pleasure, power, and pride.
When Jesus is most hungry He is tempted to turn stones into bread. (Pleasure)
When Jesus feels most weak He is tempted to have all the kingdoms of the world. (Power)
When Jesus feels most alone He is tempted to showcase His awesome power. (Pride)
Satan is tempting Jesus to use His divine power for His own pleasure, power, and pride to amaze the world. Jesus will not do that. He will only use love to change the world, and especially the love He shows on the cross and at Mass. Pleasure, power, and pride are certainly good things …but only when used for the good of others.
Our Lord teaches that Temptations happen to everyone …and love stops every temptation.
You are in good company with Jesus whenever you feel tempted to any kind of selfishness. Your mind is simply presenting options to you …and thinking selfishly is just one of them. Nothing wrong about that, as long as you quickly and simply refocus on love.
If Jesus thought only of His own needs He might have given in to Satan. His unselfish love for you and your salvation prevents that. His focus on your happiness ensures He will not fall for Satan’s ideas.
Lent is a great time to discover your own vulnerable areas of selfishness.
Is it food or drink, bad language, laziness, envy, gossip, or some other habit? Knowing yourself well and your weak areas can help you resist every temptation.
Lent is your time to measure your heart too. How much of your day is spent thinking about yourself …or how you can help the people around you?
This is your time to increase your faith knowledge too. Decide now to attend every class in The University Series.
You will always have temptations, so practice love as Jesus loved to resist every temptation and find the lasting happiness that is His will for you.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Jesus is LOVE and LOVE is the path to Heaven if we share Jesus’ love with our world and make our world Jesus’ Beautiful in His loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Love your University series!!! You Father Dave live our precious Jesus’ love sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo beautifully and you share it with everyone!! So happy our loving God gave us the gift of precious you!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!