First Sunday of Lent 2026

Lent always begins with a voice.

In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the voice of the serpent. 

In the Gospel, we hear the voice of the tempter in the desert. 

And in both cases, the voice does not begin with an obvious invitation to sin. It begins with a question.

To Eve, the serpent asks, “Did God really tell you that you must not eat from any of the trees of the garden?”

To Jesus, the devil says, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”

In both stories, temptation starts the same way — by planting doubt about God and about identity.

That’s important, because most of our temptations don’t begin with outright rebellion against God. 

They begin quietly, subtly, with voices that cause us to question whether God can really be trusted, whether His word really applies to us, or whether we need to take matters into our own hands.

That is why this Gospel is placed at the very beginning of Lent.

Before we talk about what we are giving up or taking on, Lent asks a more basic question: Whose voice are we listening to?

Adam and Eve are surrounded by abundance in the garden. 

They have everything they need. 

And yet they listen to a voice that suggests God is holding something back from them. 

That voice tells them that obedience is limiting, that trust is naïve, and that freedom comes from taking control.

Jesus, on the other hand, stands in the desert — hungry, weak, and alone. 

And yet, when temptation comes, He listens only to the voice of the Father. 

He does not argue. He does not negotiate. He does not try to prove anything. 

He responds with Scripture, with trust, and with clarity about who He is.

That contrast matters.

Lent places us in a kind of desert as well. 

It quiets the noise. It strips away distractions. 

And in that quieter space, many voices compete for our attention — voices that tell us what success looks like, what matters most, what will finally make us happy or secure.

This season invites us to refocus our attention on the only voice that truly gives life: the voice of Jesus.

That’s why our Lenten theme this year is “We Are Ambassadors for Christ.” 

An ambassador does not speak with his or her own voice. 

An ambassador listens carefully, learns the message, and represents someone else faithfully.

We cannot represent Christ well if we are constantly guided by other voices — voices of fear, pride, anger, or self-reliance. 

Lent is the time to ask ourselves honestly: Which voices have been shaping my decisions? And which voice do I need to listen to again?

The psalm today gives us the prayer that flows from that honesty: “A clean heart create for me, O God.” 

Not a perfect heart. Not a heart that never struggles. 

A heart that is clear, attentive, and open to God.

And Saint Paul reminds us in the second reading that this choice matters. 

Through one act of disobedience came sin and death, but through one act of obedience comes grace and life. 

Grace is always greater than sin — but we have to be willing to listen.

Lent is not about proving our strength. It’s about recovering our focus.

As we begin these forty days, may we allow the noise to quiet, the distractions to fade, and our attention to return to the voice that matters most — the voice that calls us beloved, invites us to trust, and leads us to life: the voice of Jesus!