Fr. Marvin’s Reflection - February 22, 2026

 In today’s Gospel, our Lord is led by the Holy Spirit into the desert. For forty days and nights, He fasts and prays to His Father in preparation for His mission. While there, the evil one tempts Jesus, attempting to lure Him away from the Father’s will. Yet Jesus, relying on the strength of His Father, resists the temptations, exposes the lies of the evil one, and drives him away.

This scene is not only a revelation of Christ’s fidelity, but also a source of hope for us. As disciples of Christ, we do not have to lose heart in our own battle against temptation and sin, for the same Holy Spirit dwells within us. His Spirit fills us with hope when we feel despair, grants us courage in moments of weakness, and blesses us with joy even amid struggle and adversity.
 
Let us reflect on the words of St. Pio: “The Spirit of God is a spirit of peace. Even in the most serious faults He makes us feel a sorrow that is tranquil, humble, and confident.   This is precisely because of His mercy. The spirit of the devil, instead, excites, exasperates, and makes us feel, in that very sorrow, anger against ourselves.”
 
We pray that our Lord  grants us the humility to open our hearts to His Holy Spirit. May He fill us with an abundance of His grace in order to persevere and overcome our present struggles against temptation and sin.

In Christ,    

Fr. Marvin