Reflection for Sunday – February 22, 2026

Marilyn CatherineSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4: 1-11 
Preacher: Marilyn Catherine

For me, speaking as a woman, our first reading presents a story overrun with thorny barbs. How do I weed through this thicket? 

Inspiration comes in a visit to Lamberton Conservatory.  It is luxuriantly green, warm, comfortable in this tropical garden. Coincidently I sat near a giant, evergreen, treelike perennial named “Bird of Paradise.”  A little child ambling along the path beside Mama spotted a tortoise on the same path and suddenly proclaimed, “Look! A turtle is going for a walk!”  The child’s voice burst with the pure joy of discovery relishing a newfound wonder of the world. 

Next on the path came a gaggle of third-graders, racing ahead of their parents, on a hunt to find a match to the pictures on their worksheets.  They are happy and having fun but something’s different in this learning experience from the younger child’s. It’s missing that quality of awe.  As we grow up our relationship with knowledge changes; as we mature it should continue to change and transform.

God like any good parent safeguarding children warned Adam and Eve. But how does a warning take on any urgency with no prior experience of how and why the consequence is undesirable.  For that we need understanding.  And understanding is a fundamental pillar and hallmark of wisdom.  Eve’s choice was mistaken but her intention, the desire behind her choice, was for wisdom.  Perhaps someone should have warned her, “Be careful what you wish for” because for better and for worse the prerequisite of wisdom is knowledge and experience is her best teacher. 

So like any good parent God must send us off on our path hoping we will make good choices.  It’s been—and still is-—a long and rocky road for most of Humanity. To paraphrase the Psalmist’s cries: we know we’re in trouble; we know it’s our doing; we can’t unbreak what we’ve broken; we can’t restore what we’ve wrecked; especially our relationship with you, Lord; time and again we fail to make good choices; we cannot do so without wisdom;  help! Help! HELP! 

The Lord hears the cry of God’s people and, in God’s characteristic generous and  abundant pouring forth, God gives us in Jesus the personification and embodiment of the Wisdom of God.  As Paul affirmed Jesus is the change we’ve longed for.

The Gospel relates the first lessons that Jesus, our Wisdom Giver offers. 

Lesson #1:  If you are a human being the devil is going to attempt to lure you out of Paradise, to cut you off from that place in the core of our being where we know we are loved beyond knowing.  So be aware.  

Lesson #2:  Know your adversary.  The devil is a liar with a bag of dirty tricks tailored to your most vulnerable points. So be humble; acknowledge your weaknesses and your hungers. Bring them out of the shadows and into the light of God.

Lesson #3:  The devil is a master manipulator.  If he sees your desire is to live by the word of God, he will use that desire and twist it toward his own ends.  So put your trust in God. Watch for traps and don’t take the bait.  

Lesson #4:  Ultimately when we have a view of the whole picture the devil is unmasked.  His power is an illusion—his logic a dead end.  None of the riches he promises are even his to give. The devil cares nothing for your well-being. His only motivation is to serve himself.  You’re but a pawn on his chessboard.  So refuse to play the game.  Pay attention to whose or what purpose you are truly serving before you make your choice.  Make God choices.

Today we are caught in a world wide web where knowledge is literally a fingertip away and AI is taking over the composition of our own thoughts.  Choices are legion. More now than ever we need Wisdom.

Marilyn Catherine
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