--- title: "Daily Gospel Reflection for February 22, 2026: First Sunday of Lent" description: Reflections on Jesus' temptations in the desert and their significance in combating our own temptations, highlighting the power of God's Word and the name of Jesus. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/February%2022.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-02222026#) [DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/tag/daily-gospel-reflections) # Daily Gospel Reflection for February 22, 2026: First Sunday of Lent Feb 22, 2026 12:15:00 AM  |  by [Merridith Frediani](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/merridith-frediani) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/February%2022.png) *Reflections on Jesus' temptations in the desert and their significance in combating our own temptations, highlighting the power of God's Word and the name of Jesus.* --- ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 4:1-11](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022226.cfm)*** I have heard a couple commentaries on this passage that have stayed with me. The first offers this passage as a practical way for each of us to combat the temptations we experience. Jesus relies on the word of God to refute Satan. Three times He is tempted and three times He responds with “it is written.” Jesus knows the power of God’s Word - He is God’s Word - and we do, too. The Bible is filled with God’s Word, and it helps us in our own challenges and temptations. We have the Ten Commandments as a skeleton to hold us up. We have the Beatitudes to offer ways to live. There are all kinds of parables to aid us in understanding what God desires of us. We also have recourse to Him - Jesus, the Living Word - when we need help. We know we can call on Him and He will be there. We know the power of His name. Sometimes that may be all we can muster, but it is sufficient. The name of Jesus has authority and power.   The second commentary compared the three temptations of Jesus in the desert to the Israelites. The Israelites wandered there for forty years. He spent forty days and forty nights there. The Israelites tried the Lord three times and failed. Jesus was tempted three times and was victorious.   Throughout the New Testament, Jesus models for us how to live. He demonstrates compassion, truth, and forgiveness. He expects the same of us. He truly is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, tying up the loose ends, and bringing us all to salvation.   ## Ponder: Have you ever relied on the name of Jesus to hold you up?   ## Pray: Jesus, thank You for Your example and the power of Your name. Help us to call it out in times of trouble.   ## Pray Together: Talk about specific times of temptation and how you can resist it in the future.   ![February 22](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/February%2022.png?width=1024&height=512&name=February%2022.png) --- Copyright 2026 Merridith Frediani   ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-02222026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-02222026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-02222026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20February%2022%2C%202026%3A%20First%20Sunday%20of%20Lent) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-02222026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-02222026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Merridith Frediani](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/MERRIDITH%20FREDIANI.jpeg) ### [Merridith Frediani](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/merridith-frediani) Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. Merridith writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book, Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration, is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can read more at [MerridithFrediani.com](http://MerridithFrediani.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for January 28, 2026 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-01282026) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 22, 2022 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-02222023) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 21, 2025 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-02212025) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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