February 22, 2026

We began the liturgical season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, as evidenced by the purple and decor that we now see on and around the altar; and by the purple vestments the priest and deacon now wear. Lent is a penitential season; one of cleansing and preparation to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• The Gloria and the Alleluia are absent from Mass. In place of the Alleluia, before the Gospel, we now hear the words “Praise to your Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!”
• Holy water is usually not available, to remind us of Jesus’ time in the dessert.
• We are called to pray more.
  • To pray the Stations of the Cross each Friday.
  • To read sacred scripture on our own, daily or as often as possible.
  • To spend quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
  • These are just a few ways to increase our prayer time.
• We are called to fast, but not so much from food, but from bad habits, our electronic devices, and ways that could lead us to sin.
• We are called to almsgiving, but this is so much more than giving financially, it is a call to get more involved to help those that are less fortunate and reaching out to those in need.

Today’s readings remind us that one of the greatest blessings we’ve received from
God is the power to decide, and also the responsibility of being able to decide. We’re free to choose, but that also means we’re free to choose something bad. Lent is a
time when we remember and repent for the bad choices we’ve made personally and as God’s people, and today’s readings show us how we got into these messes and how we can get out of them.
Today’s First Reading reminds us how temptation works, and that we have to take responsibility for our actions, because “the Devil made me do it” and “I didn’t know any better” are so often old, tired, and hollow excuses.

• Adam and Eve had life breathed into them by God himself. We came from dust, which is why every Ash Wednesday one of the formulas for administering the ashes is “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
• God created a paradise for Adam and Eve, and he also created limits. These limits were for their own good.
• To encourage the first sin, all the serpent had to do was sow doubt about whether God had their best interest in mind.
• Eve considered her options and ate of the forbidden fruit; Adam follows her lead, and the deed is done – Original Sin enters the world.

In today’s Second Reading Paul reminds us that Adam’s decision, as the head of humanity, had consequences, and so does the New Adam’s (Our Lord Jesus Christ).

• Adam, as the head of humanity, was entrusted with its wellbeing throughout the generations. He sinned and lost it all.
• Later in the Book of Genesis, we hear how one of Adam’s sons murders the other out of envy, and death enters into the world, showing the effects of sin.
• That Original Sin of Adam ushered in death for us all. That is the power and consequence of making decisions. Sin never stays at home, it spreads, just like the consequences of Original Sin spread throughout history, and death reminds us of sin and its consequences.
• This power of decision has an even greater potential for good than for evil.
• Christ, the New Adam, ushers life back into humanity through his good decision. Christ, by becoming man, became the new head of humanity, since he was its greatest example (and still is).
• He decided to lay down his life out of love for the Father and us, and through his decision, he conquered sin and death for us all.

In today’s Gospel, the garden of Eden has been replaced, ages later, as a desert of temptation. Our Lord fasts and prays before beginning his public ministry, and, like all of us, he too has to face temptation in making the right decisions. He does so to teach us how we can face and overcome temptations to decide well.

• Satan tempts him to turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger. Eve saw the forbidden fruit as good for food. Jesus could turn that stone to bread in a snap. But he replies: “One does not live on bread alone.” There are more important things to life than just filling our stomach. These stones being stones, and Jesus being hungry are all part of God’s plan, all part of God’s will. God’s will for us and others should always shape our decisions.
• Since Satan saw that Jesus was a scriptural man, he tried to use some scripture of his own. He took him to the top of the Temple in Jerusalem. Satan insisted that Jesus demands proof of God’s protection, and he had the nerve to back it up with Sacred Scripture.
• We need to have faith in God to make right decisions. Scripture helps us to know his will, not just justify our actions. We can try to make a Biblical case, but it is God who justifies or condemns our actions, not us.
• Eve saw that the fruit was good for wisdom, for knowledge that would make her like God. Satan showed Jesus in an instant all the kingdoms of the world, and all Jesus had to do was worship at his feet. He offered Jesus everything except the one thing Satan wouldn’t give up: being number one.
• Jesus stays focused on who was number one: his Heavenly Father and the mission he had received “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Serving God should always shape our decisions. If he is not in first place, our decisions will take a wrong turn.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” That’s what we’re are called to do as followers of Jesus Christ. To unite ourselves with Jesus and experience our own forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
As I look back over the past eight months, I sometimes felt that I was being tested in the desert. Searching for where God wanted me to use my gifts. I was ordained to the permanent diaconate seven years ago and initially served here at St James. Then I, along with my wife Tami, were called away to help build a new church in Carolina Forest. After nearly five years of round-the-clock effort, the Lord called me, and Tami, to a time of rest, contemplation, and healing.
My time was nothing like what Jesus experienced. But there were times that I felt Satan taunting me and this caused me to question my vocation to the permanent diaconate. But thankfully, the Lord’s presence in my life led me to more time for prayer and resting in his presence.
I never gave up on my faith, I prayed the Rosary often, attended Mass regularly and I jokingly referred to myself as a “Roaming Catholic” with “nothing but time on my hands.” But all that led me to new ways to use the gifts that God had entrusted to me.
I began to volunteer at Conway Medical Center a few hours per week as a volunteer chaplain. This experience has been both humbling and rewarding. I visit patients, comfort them, listen to the them, pray for them, and even learn from them. All while satisfying one of the Corporal Works of Mercy – Visiting the sick and imprisoned.
And at the end of last year, I met with Fr. Oscar to see if he had a need for me to serve again at St. James. Thankfully, his decision was yes, and the bishop assigned me back to this wonderful parish. It is wonderful to be back here with my St James family and I look forward to serving all of you - alongside, Fr Oscar, Fr Lee, and Deacon Tim for many years to come. God truly does answer prayers. We just have to be patient and listen for God to show us the way.

As we continue our Lenten journey (of forty days) we need to reflect on how we will be changed and grow our relationship with God.

• Lent is only a few days old. If we haven’t already decided on a how we’re going to be changed over these forty days, there is still time.
• This Lent maybe pick something challenging as a resolution (in the area of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving). Something that challenges our convictions and our weakness. Something that strengthens our relationship with God and helps those around us.
• Perhaps pick something that is going to help us grow in virtue and holiness by flexing and testing our spiritual muscles for the next six weeks.
• This process can be challenging, but also purifying because through healthy self-knowledge we can grow in humility.
• Please do not get discouraged if you don’t keep your resolution. Our Lord, is a forgiving and loving God. He wants nothing more than for each of us to know the love he has and that he wants an intimate relationship with each of us.

Amen.

Today we have the opportunity to welcome a new member to our parish through the Sacrament of Baptism. We call Anthony and Vanessa forward, with their son Anthony and his godparents.