February 22, 2026 First Sunday of Lent Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Today is the First Sunday of Lent. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents to us Jesus being tempted.
In life, we too cannot avoid experiencing temptations from this passing world, just as Jesus did. When we are caught up in them, we find ourselves increasingly drawn to enjoying the world, growing more self-centred, and desiring to accumulate its wealth. All this stems from the wound of original sin on human nature, and the root of sin is essentially the inner restlessness and dissatisfaction with the present state that lies deep within each person. Just as our first parents did—who were discontented with the wisdom and discernment God had given them—sin seized the opportunity, and the devil’s deceit succeeded.
Similarly, when participating in the Mass, we often indulge in the sacred music of the liturgy, fix our gaze on the demeanour of the celebrant and ministers at the altar, or desire the Mass to end sooner so we can receive some food at the parish entrance afterward. Yet we forget all that God reveals to us through His servant in the Sacrifice of the Mass; we neglect the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ received in the Eucharist; and we overlook the need to live out the spirit of the Gospel in daily life. In the life of the Christian community, the roles we hold may bring us closer to God, but we forget that without God’s grace, everything we possess now would amount to nothing. We even think that having all the wealth of this world could replace God. This is precisely the source of our weakness.
Today, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was tempted by the devil, did not yield to him. Instead, He defeated the devil with every word that comes from the mouth of God. Likewise, when we are weak, we must cling closely to the Word of God, using it as a weapon to overcome all temptations and difficulties.
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
聖伯多祿·達彌盎（St. Peter Damian），約1007年生於義大利的拉韋納（Ravenna）的一個龐大但貧窮的貴族家庭，是家中的幼子。早年喪父，最初由他的一個哥哥收養，但遭到這個哥哥的虐待，不讓他吃飽。一些年以後，他的另一個哥哥，拉韋納的總鐸達彌盎（Damianus）同情他，讓他去接受教育。因此，伯多祿在自己的姓氏上加上哥哥的名字。聖人在神學和教會法的學習上進步神速，聖人先後在拉韋納（Ravenna）、法恩紮（Faenza）和帕爾馬大學（University of Parma）大學受教。他在25歲的時候就已經成為在帕爾馬和拉韋納的著名老師。
約1035年，他放棄了世俗上的職業，不向克呂尼修道院（Cluniac monasteries）的奢華生活妥協，進入了古比奧附近的豐特阿韋拉納隱修院。聖人在初學和會士期間，都展現出極大的熱情，這樣的熱情使他在苦修生活中走向自我折磨的極端，以致他的健康都受到影響，令他患上了失眠症。他在康復以後被委任為修士們的講師。隨後，他應龐波薩的蓋伊（圭多·德·阿雷佐）及鄰近修道院院長的請求，他連續兩三年為他們的修士們授課，並於（約1042年）為皮耶特拉佩爾托薩（Pietrapertosa）的修士們撰寫了羅慕鐸（Romuald）傳。他在回到豐泰阿維拉納修道院（Monastery of Fonte Avellana）後被委任為該修院的管家，以後，他任該修院的院長，直到1072年2月逝世。
圣伯多禄·达弥盎（St. Peter Damian），约1007年生于意大利的拉韦纳（Ravenna）的一个庞大但贫穷的贵族家庭，是家中的幼子。早年丧父，最初由他的一个哥哥收养，但遭到这个哥哥的虐待，不让他吃饱。一些年以后，他的另一个哥哥，拉韦纳的总铎达弥盎（Damianus）同情他，让他去接受教育。因此，伯多禄在自己的姓氏上加上哥哥的名字。圣人在神学和教会法的学习上进步神速，圣人先后在拉韦纳（Ravenna）、法恩扎（Faenza）和帕尔马大学（University of Parma）大学受教。他在25岁的时候就已经成为在帕尔马和拉韦纳的著名老师。
约1035年，他放弃了世俗上的职业，不向克吕尼修道院（Cluniac monasteries）的奢华生活妥协，进入了古比奥附近的丰特阿韦拉纳隐修院。圣人在初学和会士期间，都展现出极大的热情，这样的热情使他在苦修生活中走向自我折磨的极端，以致他的健康都受到影响，令他患上了失眠症。他在康复以后被委任为修士们的讲师。随后，他应庞波萨的盖伊（圭多·德·阿雷佐）及邻近修道院院长的请求，他连续两三年为他们的修士们授课，并于（约1042年）为皮耶特拉佩尔托萨（Pietrapertosa）的修士们撰写了罗慕铎（Romuald）传。他在回到丰泰阿维拉纳修道院（Monastery of Fonte Avellana）后被委任为该修院的管家，以后，他任该修院的院长，直到1072年2月逝世。
Saturday after Ash Wednesday Or Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Gospel: Luke 5:27-32
On Wednesday of this week, together with the universal Church, we received ashes and thus began the season of Lent. Today, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Peter Damian.
St. Peter Damian born around 1007 in Ravenna, Italy, into a large but poor noble family, was the youngest son. He lost his father at an early age and was initially taken in by one of his brothers, who mistreated him and did not feed him enough. Some years later, another brother, Damianus, who was a canon in Ravenna, took pity on him and arranged for him to receive an education. Thus, Peter added his brother’s name to his own surname. The saint made rapid progress in his studies of theology and canon law, being educated successively at the university of Ravenna, Faenza, and Parma. By the age of 25, he had become a renowned teacher in both Parma and Ravenna.
Around 1035, he renounced his secular career and, refusing to compromise with the luxurious lifestyle of the Cluniac monasteries, entered the hermitage of Fonte Avellana near Gubbio. During his novitiate and as a monk, the saint displayed great zeal, which led him to extremes of self-mortification in his ascetic life, so much so that his health suffered and he developed insomnia. After recovering, he was appointed as a lecturer for the monks. Subsequently, at the request of Guy of Pomposa (Guido d’Arezzo) and the abbots of nearby monasteries, he taught their monks for two or three consecutive years, and around 1042, he wrote a biography of Romuald for the monks of Pietrapertosa. Upon returning to the Monastery of Fonte Avellana, he was appointed steward of the monastery, and later became its prior, serving until his death in February 1072.
On September 27, 1828, Pope Leo XII declared him a Doctor of the Church.
In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, we see Jesus calling Levi, who immediately left his profession and followed Jesus. The Pharisees and their scribes criticized Jesus for dining with Levi and those they considered public sinners. Sometimes, we too are like those Pharisees and scribes who criticized Jesus, compromising with the world’s values that exalt luxury, to the point where we cannot see the image of God.
Today, Levi gave up everything to follow Jesus completely and became His disciple; St. Peter Damian did even more so. Both set an example for us. Therefore, let us imitate their virtues, courageously abandon our attachments, follow Christ, and journey toward holiness.
Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion on our weakness and ensure us your protection by stretching forth the right hand of your majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
On Wednesday of this week, together with the universal Church, we received ashes and thus began the season of Lent. Just as Pope Leo XIV taught us about the significance of fasting in his Lenten Message for 2026. The Pope said: Abstaining from food is an ancient ascetic practice that is essential on the path of conversion. Precisely because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognize what we “hunger” for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance. Moreover, it helps us to identify and order our “appetites” keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency. Thus, it teaches us to pray and act responsibly towards our neighbour.
Today’s passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew also speaks of fasting. The disciples of John came to Jesus and said, “We and the Pharisees fast often, but why do Your disciples not fast?” (See Mt 9:14). They believed that only through fasting and prayer could one obtain true salvation from God. In their view, those who were with Jesus could not obtain the true salvation that God bestowed. So, when they saw that Jesus’ disciples did not fast, they came to Jesus and accused His disciples of not fasting and praying.
Often, we are like John and his disciples, as well as the Jews of that time, competing with others in our faith life. For example, we may compare who can recite more scriptures, thinking that the more scriptures we can recite, the more proficient we are in prayer. Or we may compare who observes more fasts, believing that our fasts will earn us God’s rewards. In fact, it is not these scriptures, or these fasts that bring us true salvation, but the merciful God.
Therefore, during this Lenten season, let us return to the original purpose of fasting and prayer, so that fasting, which is beneficial for us to rediscover God and re-establish a connection with Jesus Christ, can truly help us become worthy Christians. May we, under the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, live this Lenten season well.
Show gracious Favor, O Lord, we pray, to the works of penance we have begun, that we may have strength to accomplish with sincerity the bodily observances we undertake. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
全属于祢 
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