February 22, 2026. First Sunday in Lent. Year A.
Each temptation of Jesus bears a striking resemblance to the idols of empire (one scholar compares them, respectively, to the “bread, circuses, and political power” with which Roman citizens would have been familiar). Jesus rejects them all with his Scriptural wisdom and devotion to God. The grand gift of Jesus’ resistance to temptation is the establishment of a new kind of kingdom in contrast to the kingdoms of this world that are passing away—an eternal kingdom rooted in God’s word, trust, and holy reverence.
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis
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