Podcasts about lent february

1st wednesday in LentScripture Readings: Matthew 13: 24-30

Msgr. Roger J. Landry Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Akure, Nigeria Friday of the First Week of Lent February 27, 2026 Ezek 18:21-18, Ps 130, Mt 5:20-26   To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/2.27.26_Homily_Sacred_Heart_Seminary_Akure_1.mp3   The outline of the homily was:  The significance of the seminary’s motto, Adveniat Regnum […] The post Striving for Surpassing Righteousness, First Friday of Lent, February 27, 2026 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

Delivered by Angeline from the Parish of Saint Catherine in the Diocese of Seattle, Washington, USA. Deuteronomy 26: 16-19; Rs psalm 119: 1-2.4-5.7-8; Matthew 5: 43-48.BECOMING PERFECT LIKEA THE FATHER WHO IS PERFECT Our meditation today isentitled: Becoming Perfect Like the Father Who is Perfect. In the family,parents really hope that the child or their children can reach the level ofprogress according to the standards they want. If a father or mother targets ascore of 10 and their children can achieve it, or even go beyond that, theparent's goal is realized. So, perfect parents really want their child orchildren to be as perfect as they are. But not all familiesexperience this ideal. There are children who cannot meet their parentsstandard. Dialogue, compromise and openness with each other are to be madepossible, so that good relations and living together can be maintained in love.When Jesus Christ asks us to be perfect like the heavenly Father who isperfect, to be our concern in this Lent, our situation is somehow the same aschildren who have not met the standards of their parents. Lent is indeed fullof more efforts and calculations so that we are able to realize what God andthe Church wish from us. One of the most important efforts or calculations isthe act of love. When we love relatives or friends, these action is classifiedas normal love. In the family and school, a child is considered kind andsincere if he loves his siblings and friends. Among neighbors and members ofthe society, we always do acts of love, and this all makes us good friends orneighbors. However, Jesus wantsto teach us more than just this normal and good thing. Although this is ateaching for all times, in Lent it is a discipline and penance when we love,pray, help, and forgive those who do us wrong. They are deliberately jealous,angry, and hateful to us. This kind of love will make us greater and canincrease our standard as followers of Christ from the level of just good andnormal believers. Through ordinary good works and added to them are our acts oflove towards enemies, Jesus gives us a very high price and high standard, whichis to be perfect like the heavenly Father who is perfect. Moses had previouslyconfirmed this teaching to the Israelites across the Jordan River, when theysaw that God's promise was very clear to them. Everyone and the whole nationbecame a holy people of the God Almighty, who is the Lord of the entire worldand universe. Perfection like the Father conveyed by Moses required the peopleof God to obey God's commands with all their hearts and souls. The teachings ofMoses were binding and demanding, but were later perfected by Jesus, who madehimself the example of our perfection. We only need to obey and be loyal toHim.Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Good and kind Father, make us live in the fullness of Your love andenable us to practice this love wholeheartedly towards our neighbors. Glory tothe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...

Msgr. Roger J. Landry St. Francis Xavier Parish, Owo, Nigeria Site of the Massacre of 41 Christians on June 5, 2022 Thursday of the First Week of Lent February 26, 2026 Esther 12.14-16, 23-25, Ps 138, Mt 7:7-12   To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/2.26.26_Homily_St._Francis_Xavier_Owo.mp3   The outline […] The post Becoming People of Prayer Inspiring People All Across the World, First Thursday of Lent, February 26, 2026 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

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Delivered by Nia from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Ezekiel 18: 21-28; Rs psalm 130: 1-2.3-4ab.4c-6.7-8; Matthew 5: 20-26.NEW LAW REPLACES OLDLAW Our Meditation today isentitled: New Law Replaces Old Law. In this life, a change from good attitudeto bad attitude has happened a lot. Likewise, a person changes his evil wayinto a true one  also happens a lot. Thisis not because the change is automatic or a bonus for him. The change occurrsgenerally because it is intended or it is made possible to change. Humanfreedom allows this change to take place. One can choose to make a change ornot to change at all. The book of the prophet Ezekiel in the first readingcompares two areas that humans may take, namely darkness and light. Everyone isfree and deliberately chooses which area is preferred. Those who live in thedarkness of the world that is full with evil, have actually been good people.The leader of the devil before embracing evil, was an angel. Thus, many bad andevil people were previously good and right people. The Prophet said that such achange leads its way to destruction. The final result obtained from the choiceto live an evil life is death. There is no more help for the one who has chosento become evil. People who are already in hell can't be helped anymore. Those who live inGod's grace are those who live in the fullness of God's light, manifested intheir words and deeds. Precisely those who are highly praised by God and givenhope for an eternal life are those who give up dark life and live a new lifeunder the light of the Lord. Lent is an opportunity to have this kind ofexperience. Through our Lenten discipline such as fasting, examination ofconscience and the Sacrament of Confession, we renew ourselves to become newpersons. This renewal is madeso perfectly by Jesus, namely creating a new way of obeying God's commands andavoiding evil deeds. The old law stipulates a number of conditions for notdefiling and plunging oneself into sin according to the perspective at that time.The old law was replaced by Jesus by emphasizing more on the human aspect andnot on the rules of customs, habits, and views of great people or religiousleaders. The new law broughtby Jesus Christ is love. According to the principle of the law of love, anyaction that starts with evil intentions, thoughts, and plans is consideredsinful. It replaces the old law which only looks at sin when it is already amurder, destruction, manipulation, condemnation, and deprivation. In fact, whenthere are evil intentions or thoughts, one has already evil acts like anger andhatred, that later be manifested concretely. Thus, sin and evil really startfrom evil understanding, concepts, intentions, and thoughts. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O glorious and loving Jesus, perfect in our hearts the law of your love andenable us to love our neighbors following your example. Hail Mary, full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father ...

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Matthew 4:1-11At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desertto 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 forthfrom 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 youand 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 worshipand him alone shall you serve.”Then the devil left him and, behold,angels came and ministered to him.

Matthew 4:1-11At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desertto 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 forthfrom 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 youand 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 worshipand him alone shall you serve.”Then the devil left him and, behold,angels came and ministered to him.

Matthew 4:1-11At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desertto 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 forthfrom 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 youand 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 worshipand him alone shall you serve.”Then the devil left him and, behold,angels came and ministered to him.

Sunday Worship for February 22, 2026, from Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle, our 10:30 service— Pastor Dan Peterson; Cantor Kyle Haugen. Prelude —Chorale prelude on O MENSCH BEWEIN DEIN SUENDE GROSS; J. S. Bach (1685–1750) • Introit—Psalm 91:15, 16, 1 • Gathering Hymn— The Glory of These Forty Days, (ELW 320) • First Reading— Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 • Psalm 32 • Second Reading— Romans 5:12-19 • Gospel—Matthew 4:1-11 • Sermon—"On Sin" • Hymn of the Day—I Want Jesus to Walk with Me   (ELW 325) • Distribution Anthem—Processional Psalm for Lent;  David P. Dahl (b. 1937) • Sending Hymn —Jesus, Still Lead On (ELW 624) • Postlude—Toccata in D minor (“Dorian”); J. S. Bach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link here to view the bulletin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoying our worship recordings? Consider giving. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Father John Eckert and Father Matthew Dimock's homilies on the First Sunday of Lent February 22, 2026 Vigil and 1030am Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Readings https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022226.cfm Check out our YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@salisburycatholic?si=vDDTUQlvetXyCYpN

Delivered by Gladys from the Parish of Saint Gabriel in the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. Esther C 4: 10a.10c-12.17-19; Rs psalm 138: 1-2a.2bc-3.7c-8; Matthew 7: 7-12.GOD IS OUR HELPER Our meditation today isentitled: God Is Our Helper. Mrs. Martha, a widow, has been working for morethan twenty years as a sacristant in a local parish church. Her monthly salaryis far less than the lowest salary for a civil servant. Meanwhile she has theeldest son who is in college and his younger brother who is still in highschool. One time her son whois a university student badly needed money for an important academic activity.However, this mother did not have at all the amount that her son needed. Sheworked as usual and continued to pray in the church, while welcoming the variouspeople who came to pray in the church. There was a guest from outside the areawho, after praying, gave her an envelope filled with money. He said that hisnovena prayer was granted and the first person he met at the church deserved avery sincere sign of gratitude from him. The money was the exact amount for herson's need at the university. In reality, half ofour prayers are petitions. We ask and beg because we believe that God is sogenerous. It is impossible for us to continue asking and asking at those whodon't have anything. Because God is so abundant in his grace, we ask Himwithout ceasing. So God really is our helper. Through requests and petitions inprayers, God gives us according to His will. Human needs will notbe exhausted when they are still in the world. At times when we are not pressedor not in difficulties, it seems that our prayers do not contain requests. Itmay also be that our prayers every day do not specifically express requests orasking, because our lives are just flowing and simply normal. But when viewedobjectively, our own lives are a gift to be implemented day and night. We justneed God's guidance and protection. We certainly expressgratitude for this gift. However, in the prayer of thanksgiving, implied arequest that our lives be kept away from all evil influences and enemy'sthreat. We hope that our faith and hope for God's providence will remainstrong. Esther in the Old Testament tells how the danger of death wasthreatening her life. Queen Esther firmly believed that only God's help wouldshe rely on. Although she felt so lonely and there was no one by her side, shetruly believed that God was her true and main helper. God cannot bear torefuse His children asking for help in strong faith and hope. Especially in thedifficulties and sufferings of life, our only hope is the almighty God. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... Almighty God, may Your power be with us in the moments of difficulty andtrials in our lives. Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...

First Sunday in Lent - February 22, 2026 - Pastor Mark Tiefel

Send us a Text Message and let us know how you like this podcast.Thank you for listening to this worship service from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Dublin, Ohio! For more information about Prince of Peace, please visit our website at princeofpeacedublin.org.Connect with us on facebook and instagram.Email us at office@princeofpeacedublin.org.

Delivered by Elyanne from the Parish of Saint James in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Jonah 3: 1-10; Rs psalm 51: 3-4.12-13.18-19; Luke 11: 29-32.MORE THAN A SIGN OFWARNING The title for ourmeditation today is: More Than a Sign of Warning. When the Jewish leaders,religious authorities and scholars pressed Jesus to give them a sign for allmiracles He had done, Jesus did not want to give any. He responded them withHis silence. Eventhough He would say an answer, they would not understand andaccept Him. On various occasions and in kinds of words He expplained that Hehimself is indeed a sign from God, but they prefered another kind of sign. Theyactually did not recognized Yesus as the One sent by the Lord who is in heaven. The book of theprophet Jonah in the first reading shows that the people and the city ofNineveh who were known for their sins, heeded God's warning and recognizedJonah when he came to speak to them. God presented His signs through theprophet Jonah. Then the city, its leaders and the inhabitants listened to theProphet. The result was that they all repented. On another occasion, the Queenof Sheba who was not of a Jewish and a believer recognized God's wisdom throughthe King Solomon. This shows that Jonah and Solomon were signs from God. God'ssign through Jonah was the message of God's mercy for the people of Nineveh.Through Solomon God delivered the message of joyful wisdom to the queen and thewhole world. If our response is toaccept, acknowledge, and undertake the messages from God through human signs,things become easy and God blesses us with abundant gifts. We then have joy,peace, happiness, and salvation. The problem is that there are always humanreactions that do not hear, reject, and do not heed the warning. Obviously theresult is that they do not receive God's blessing. The reactions of the Jewishleaders, religious authorities, and scholars were even harder, as they did notaccept the signs from above. They did not acknowledge God to be more powerfulthan Jonah and Solomon. This is their big mistake, so the Lord warned themright away and strongly! We experience God'spresence directly through the preaching of His word. The Word is preached bythe various ministries of the Church as the light and source of our lives. Inthe Eucharist, the word becomes the Body of Jesus we receive and eat. In the sacramentof Reconciliation, the word becomes a gift of mercy that forgives and saves usfrom sin. In homilies, the word becomes a spiritual spring that satisfies thethirst of our souls. In pastor's blessing, the word becomes a spiritual forcethat strengthens our spiritual life. In spiritual songs, the word becomes agentle touch that makes us calm and comfortable. In the counsel of parents andadults, the word protects us. So throughout our lives the word of God isincarnated. We just need to accept and acknowledge that there is a God, andthen we fulfill His will. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O most loving and generous Father, fill our hearts with Your wisdom andlove so that we may grow in the way You wish us to be. Let us alwaysacknowledge You and Your plan for us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and tothe Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent (February 22, 2026) Total Time: 15m39s

James Van Der Beek, fulfillment, and identity. 

An Evensong meditation by the Rev. Canon David Boyd on the First Sunday in Lent (February 22, 2026) at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta

A sermon by the Very Rev. Sam Candler on the First Sunday in Lent (February 22, 2026) at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent - February 22, 2026

Word & Sermon Weekly – First Sunday in Lent – February 22, 2026 Genesis 3:1–21 Romans 5:12–19 Matthew 4:1–11 Learn more about Zion Lutheran Church and the Christian faith, by subscribing to this podcast, and joining us next Sunday by visiting www.zionhiawatha.org

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Isaiah 55: 10-11; Rs psalm 34: 4-5.6-7.16-17.18-19; Matthew 6: 7-15.ABUNDANT FRUITS FROMTHE WORD OF GOD  The title for ourmeditation today is: Abundant Fruits from the Word of God. God's work to savemankind from sins culminates in the presence of the Son of God becoming man in Jesus Christ. This divine work is a majortheme to be pondered in the heart of every believer, and especially to be moreeffective during Lent. This is to strengthenour faith in the events of Jesus Christ that we celebrate during the Holy Week.We who celebrate Easter, preparing ourselves during Lent, experience aprivilege closeness with the Lord by participating in the events of Christ.Jesus always emphasizes the principle of self-sacrifice that is to do the willof the Father to be realized in this world. That sacrifice signifies how eachof us is not just His people or His followers, but also His own brothers andsisters. He himself says that the greatest love is menifested in the sacrificeof oneself for the goodness and salvation of his or her brothers and sisters. We as children of Godthrough the sacrament of baptism that raises us to become His beloved sons anddaughters, have a special dignity of one brotherhood with Jesus Christ. Withhim, we call God in heaven as our common and beloved Father. All followers ofChrist affirm and embrace their brotherhood with Jesus, their dignity as sonsand daughters of God, and their personal and filial relationship with God asthe Father. The expression of this intimate relationship is manifested in theprayer of "Our Father". In Lent, of course wepray "Our Father" with the best quality of faith, as one form ofdiscipline in our Christian piety. This prayer confirms our brotherhood withChrist, and together with Him we greet God as "our Father". We saythis prayer many times every day because we want to strengthen our fidelity tothe One Father in heaven, who endows His gifts upon each one of us that make usremain close to Him. This happens in this way because of our communion withJesus Christ. The abundance offruits in us remain certain through the gift of God's word which is present toenlighten, strengthen, and renew the life of every believer. Jesus is no longerpresent in His body, but in His word. Through that word, each of us grows and bearsfruit, especially in the form of prayers that unite us with our Father inheaven. Prayer reveals what we do in fasting, such as forgiving and refrainingfrom falling into temptation. Through prayer we also express the intention todo good for our neighbors.Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Father of mercy, send your Spirit to help us and to accompany us to praylike Jesus Christ. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... In the name of the Father ...

Mass Readings for First Sunday of Lent - February 22, 2026 Reading 1, Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 Reading 2, Romans 5:12-19 Gospel, Matthew 4:1-11

First Sunday in Lent February 22, 2026 Exactly What I Need - A Champion Sermon based on Matthew 4:1-11 https://stpeterchurchmodesto.org/

Year A – First Sunday in Lent– February 22, 2026 Pastor Megan Floyd Matthew 4:1-11 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, who loves us and claims us as his own. Amen. *** I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood… Looking back over my life, I'm pretty sure that's what radicalized me. In Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, you knew you belonged, and that who you were… was good… and that… the other people around you… well, they might be different from you… look different from you… but… they were good, too. In that neighborhood, there was an overwhelming sense that we belonged to each other… there was shared love and respect for other people, even when they made mistakes. In Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, each person… or character… was valued… seen… and supported. This is something that everyone of us needs, not just children… and we need this throughout our whole lives. Mr. Rogers was not just the face and creator of the children's show… he was also a Presbyterian pastor… so it's not surprising at all… that his neighborhood intentionally reflected… the beloved community that we, who are followers of Jesus, work to build. Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood was a little taste of what God's vision for us might look like when we take seriously the ways of living that Jesus called us to practice. It was a little sample of living in the promised kingdom of God… for 30 minutes at a time. Those of us who were raised in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood know that a better, more beautiful, and beloved neighborhood is possible… if we choose to live that way. Growing up with a show like this… it's no wonder that I feel so strongly that compassion for others is healthy… that empathy can heal divides… and that love and support should not have conditions. It's no wonder… that I don't want to bend to the unjust power systems in this world… in this country… even though… I could work the system to bend in my favor. I could! …it is, after all, set up for me to do so… it's tempting to take advantage of that. Case in point… I am a white, cisgender, heterosexual woman, wife, and mother, from a middle-class family… and my husband does not suffer from the delusion that I am merely an accessory to his lifestyle. I have a world-class education that was mostly achieved without debt, I do not suffer from debilitating diseases like addiction or depression, and… at least at this moment, I am still able-bodied… most of the time. It is tempting… it's tempting… to sink into the power structures that privilege nearly all of my life's characteristics. But to do so… would mean to accept an unjust and unequal community… it would mean giving up on the better way that I know is possible… not just because Mr. Rogers showed me that way when I was a child… but because Jesus was super clear about it. Embracing a privilege that marginalizes others is not part of God's vision for us… for humanity… it does not ask us to become the best version of ourselves… or call us into a more beloved community. But… when power and privilege are laid out before you for the taking… it's tempting… to reach out and take it, no matter who it harms. This is, of course… what Jesus himself… faced in the wilderness immediately following his baptism… immediately after hearing the voice of God claiming him as God's beloved, in whom God was well pleased. The Spirit led him out there…  into the desert… where he fasted for 40 days… facing spiritual and physical challenges… he was famished, and weak… and at his most vulnerable moment, the devil stepped in… as the devil is wont to do. We all have experience with the devil… with the voice of the accuser… whether you believe the devil to be an actual being… or the shadow side of our own human self… it doesn't matter. In whatever shape it takes on… the accuser… the devil… is the one who whispers lies in our ear… lies about ourselves and others. It's the voice of shame… the voice that isolates and diminishes… That is the voice of the accuser. God's voice is the one who declares us worthy and loved… while the voice of the accuser, on the other hand… is the one who pulls us away from God's purpose… and from God's vision for us. The voice of the accuser is the one who would have us forget our identity as beloved… as children of God… and who offers only empty promises. It's what the devil tried to offer Jesus… he tried to entice him to reject his identity and grasp at empty promises… to wield power that would serve only himself… instead of those he came to serve. Because… Jesus does have the power to do what the devil suggests… but he chooses not to use it. He chooses not to become an agent for the accuser, because he knows that he is… an agent of God. And Jesus knows… that empires are not eternal… and nations are not sovereign over God… and earthly power is not permanent. What the devil offers are false promises and lies, and what is built on false promises will fall… but what is rooted in God's love and in God's vision… will grow. Jesus, in this most vulnerable moment, holds fast to his identity… and to his purpose… and calls us to do the same, even though it's tempting to follow the lies. Our God, who was made human in Jesus… knows this temptation we face. God's unconditional love for us is grounded in a personal experience of the temptations and suffering that we experience all the time. So when we cry out… in our moments of weakness… when we face temptation… whether we falter or hold fast… we remain beloved… we are still washed with grace, redeemed, and claimed as God's own… We are always being made new and always being called into a vision for a beloved community that is bigger than our own wants and needs… a vision that includes flourishing not only for ourselves but for all our neighbors. This time in the season of Lent offers us the opportunity for our own spiritual growth… a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal… a time to practice resilience in the face of temptation… a time to remember who we are as followers of our God in Christ Jesus. This is a time to reestablish our footing… to ground ourselves in God's love and grace and mercy… and in our place of belonging in God's community… God's kingdom… God's new creation that is arriving but not yet here. It is okay… to be tested… it is okay to face temptation… to face our devils… we all do. It is part of the human experience… there's no shame in it. The devil will tell you to isolate… to pull you away from others…because when you are alone, it's easier to forget who you are, and whose you are. But when we are grounded in God's neighborhood… God's loving community… that calls us each to be our best selves… rooted in the body of Christ and committed to living in ways that reflect that love… then we know we will not have to try and overcome those lies alone. The season of Lent calls us back into God's love… back to that which sustains and supports us on our spiritual journey. This vision of beloved community that Jesus invites us into… well, it may sound like the land of make-believe from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, but truly… this beloved community… God's neighborhood… comes a little closer each time we live into God's vision for us… …each time we honor the inherent value and dignity of all our neighbors, as well as our own… and hold them, and ourselves, with the same love that God holds for us. It's not the land of make-believe… it is who we are created to be. Amen.

The Rev. Dcn. Cariño Casas joins us this morning in her capacity as Executive Director of CMJ USA, the Church's ministry among Jewish people. She helps us see Jesus's heart for the people of his homeland and invites us to encounter our Jewish neighbors in a new way. If you like what you hear, we hope you'll join us in person if you're in the area. Learn more about us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/servantsanglican⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.servantsanglican.org/⁠⁠⁠

Maple Park Church Sermon - First Sunday in Lent - February 22nd, 2026 by Maple Park Church

Scriptures: Genesis 2:4–9, 15–17, 25—3:7 | Psalm 51:1–12 | Romans 5:12–21 | Matthew 4:1–11 | by Fabien Pering Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Are You 'Only Human'?" Jesus shows us where to find our humanity :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Today's episode featured video from Adrian Hoparda (www.pexels.com/@adrian-hoparda-1684220) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

First Sunday in Lent: February 22nd, 2026. Mother Nancy preaches. The post First Sunday in Lent: February 22nd, 2026 appeared first on Christ Church of Austin.

Delivered by Everine from the Parish of Saint Theresia in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Leviticus 19: 1-2.11-18; Rs psalm 19: 8.9.10.15; Matthew 25: 31-46.LENTEN LAMBS AND GOATS Our meditation today isentitled: Lenten Lambs and Goats. There was one WhatsApp message shared throughdifferent groups and then forwarded by individuals, that  says: Every year we fast, pray fervently anddo charity during Lent, but the results have not  been good. One time we become good persons, atother times we become bad persons. Today we choose blessings, tomorrow we canturn to curses. Forgiveness and repentance occur at the time of confession, butafter that we return to sin. We seem to struggle with difficulty to becomeperfect people. We know andunderstand all the prohibitions established by God, and Moses delivered them toGod's people that they needed to heed the ten commandments of God, as stated inthe Book of Leviticus in the first reading. They must be as holy as God who isholy. They were prohibited to stealing, lie, perjury, take people's property, bejealous, hate, be angry and so on. All this is summed up to one main law whichis to love our neighbors as we for ourselves. So in this Lent, the followersof Christ are appropriately portrayed as individuals who do their best to loveothers, but are no exception being sinners for not loving others sincerely. Forexample someone does charity so diligently in collecting donations for thosewho really need helps of clothing, food, and shelter, but he is also mostlyknown as a backbiting and the one who likes to spread hoax. This is an example aboutus who do Lenten observances are not pure and holy persons. Some aspects of ourselvesare good and holy, but other aspects are not. Jesus Christ indeed comparesthose on the right side are sheeps with great charity, but if we want to behonest we have not reached yet perfection being that way. Those on the leftside are goats with a great negligence in charity, but they are also notcompletely evil in that way. It is possible thatalmost all of us in Lent are half sheeps and half goats. We are the"sheeps and goats" type in this Lent. If we are already pure and holypeople, obviously we don't need Lent. More precisely, we go directly tocelebrate the holy week in order to become one with the dead and risen Christ.But it is apparently not the case. Actually, not only Lent but also every timeon this earth, our lives are like "sheeps and goats" type, thereforewe must be faithful to God and obtain His mercy. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Jesus Christ, be our master and guide in our lives. May your love ruleover our hearts so that we can only serve you for the rest of our lives. HailMary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...

The Rev. Terry McGugan

First Sunday in Lent - February 22nd, 2026 (10:30AM) Sermon - Pastor Packer "If You Are a Son…" Scripture: Genesis 3:1-21; Hebrews 4:14-16; Matthew 4:1-11

Grace Greater Than the Fall is a Christ-centered Lutheran sermon on Genesis 3:1–21 for the First Sunday in Lent (February 22, 2026). This expository Bible sermon explores the Fall of Adam and Eve, original sin, temptation, and the triumph of Jesus Christ as the Second Adam. In this Lenten message, Pastor Balla proclaims Law and Gospel clearly: the devastating consequences of sin, the curse of death, and the overwhelming grace of God revealed in Christ's obedience, wilderness temptation (Matthew 4), and atoning sacrifice on the cross.This sermon speaks directly to spiritual warfare, doubt, “Did God actually say?”, and the daily struggle Christians face with temptation. It powerfully connects Genesis 3, Romans 5, and Galatians 3 to show that where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Perfect for those seeking biblical preaching, Reformation theology, Lutheran doctrine, and faithful exposition of Scripture.Support the preaching of Law and Gospel here:https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphBuy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags:#LentSermon#Genesis3#LawAndGospel#OriginalSin#JesusChrist

Delivered by Yurike Gunawan from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7; Rs psalm 51: 3-4.5-6a.12-13.14.17; Romans 5: 12-19; Matthew 4: 1-11.GOD SEES ANDALLOWS MAN TO BE TEMPTED BY SATAN The tittle for our meditation on the First Sunday ofLent is: God Sees and Allows Man to be Tempted by Satan. We often askourselves: if God is good, why does He allow people to be tempted? Why didn'the stop the devil right away? In the Garden of Eden, God saw when the first humanbeing was tempted. In the wilderness, God also saw when His own Son, JesusChrist, was tempted repeatedly. God is not blind, God is not negligent. Hesees. He knows. And He allows. But God's permission is not a sign that Heapproves evil. God's permission is always in the plan of love and salvation. God allows temptation because He created man withfreedom. Love without freedom is not true love. Loyalty without choice is notloyalty. If humans can never choose the wrong one, then choosing the right oneis no longer meaningful. So in the face of temptation, man is actually standingbefore an opportunity: whether he will believe in God, or believe in anothervoice. That's where faith becomes real, not just words. The story in Eden shows how human can fall. Whenlistening to the voice of the devil, human chooses a path away from God. Buteven in that moment of fall, God does not leave. He seeks out people, callsthem, and opens the way of salvation. So God never allows temptation to destroyman, but rather to lead man to see how much he needs God. Sin hurts, but theconsciousness of sin opens the door to repentance. Then we see Jesus in the wilderness. He was temptednot once, but many times. Satan tried to shake Him through the hunger, power,and glory of the world. But Jesus did not fall. He answered with the Word ofGod, with full trust in the Father. This is where the light of hope lies:temptation does not have to end in sin. In Jesus, we learn that humans canstand firm. He showed that faithfulness is possible, that God's grace is strongenough to help us. Perhaps in our lives today there is also a"wilderness": the temptation to despair, the temptation to be angry,the temptation to look for shortcuts, the temptation to live away from God.Don't immediately think God is leaving us. Quite the opposite. God sees. God iswith us. And He allows that struggle to be purified in our faith, in order forour hearts to learn to rely on Him again. So don't be afraid of temptation. Be afraid when westop returning to God. When you fall, rise through repentance. When you arestrong, be grateful for His grace. Because in every struggle, God is working toshape our hearts. He never leaves man in temptation. Instead, he opens the wayhome. And on that way home, we find that God's love is always greater than anytemptation in this world.Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Father inheaven, fill us with Your power so that we may overcome the temptations in ourlives and choose the way back to You. Our Father who art in heaven... In thename of the Father ...

Greetings to you on this first Sunday of the Lenten Season.I will pray that this year's Lenten Journey will be a blessing to you.Fr. Kennedy

Grace seems to fail a million times an hour. In every place where mercy isn't honored and accepted, grace appears an unwise use of heaven's kindness and forgiveness.  Hard hearts chill with chosen hate. Clenched hands will not open to the gift. Death and dryness multiply.  But grace is never limited by how it is received. Like some deep-hidden spring whose source cannot be found, grace flows to sinners and to saints, without regard to worthiness. Some are only temporarily dampened by the flow, but remain defiantly unchanged. Others are made soft and pliable by the same unending grace—new clay from which the Lord will fashion recreated men and women.  So grace is neither a reward for good behavior nor a prompt to honor good intentions. Grace is the decision of our God—who cannot fail—to offer all of us what we have not deserved, have often not desired, and certainly could never earn. It flows from God's unending heart of love.  “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.' And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.' And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift” (Rev 22:17). Now stay in it. -Bill Knott

Grace seems to fail a million times an hour. In every place where mercy isn't honored and accepted, grace appears an unwise use of heaven's kindness and forgiveness.  Hard hearts chill with chosen hate. Clenched hands will not open to the gift. Death and dryness multiply.  But grace is never limited by how it is received. Like some deep-hidden spring whose source cannot be found, grace flows to sinners and to saints, without regard to worthiness. Some are only temporarily dampened by the flow, but remain defiantly unchanged. Others are made soft and pliable by the same unending grace—new clay from which the Lord will fashion recreated men and women.  So grace is neither a reward for good behavior nor a prompt to honor good intentions. Grace is the decision of our God—who cannot fail—to offer all of us what we have not deserved, have often not desired, and certainly could never earn. It flows from God's unending heart of love.  “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.' And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.' And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift” (Rev 22:17). Now stay in it. -Bill Knott