For Christians, the season of Lent is a time of reflection, penance, and renewal. It is a journey through the trials of faith, leading to the joy of the Resurrection. Pope Francis, in his prepared homily for the first Sunday of Lent on March 9, emphasized that for those who place their trust in Christ, difficulties and defeats are not the final word.
“In the face of temptation, we sometimes fall; we are all sinners,” the Holy Father acknowledged in his homily. “Our defeat, however, is not definitive, because following our every fall, God lifts us up by his infinite love and forgiveness” (Pope Francis, March 9 Homily). These words serve as a reminder that God’s mercy is greater than our failures and that His grace continually calls us to conversion.
Although the Holy Father was unable to preside over the Sunday Mass due to ongoing medical treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, his message was delivered by Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The Mass, attended by thousands of uniformed volunteers, coincided with the conclusion of the Jubilee for the World of Volunteering.
Cardinal Czerny, reading from the pope’s prepared text, reflected on three aspects of Jesus’ temptation in the desert: “its beginning, the way it takes place, and its result.” This, he explained, provides inspiration for every Christian’s personal journey of conversion.
The pope’s homily urged the faithful not to fear or be discouraged when temptation arises. “Whenever we ask God not to lead us into temptation (cf. Mt 6:13), we need to remember that he has already answered that prayer through Jesus, his incarnate word, who remains with us always” (Pope Francis, March 9 Homily). The Lord’s presence is constant, especially in times of struggle and uncertainty.
Pope Francis further warned of the devil’s tactics, stating, “The way” the tempter operates is by sowing doubt in our hearts, making us question our relationship with God. “In his perversion, the devil wants to destroy that bond,” he explained, adding that Jesus’ connection with the Father “is not something to be grasped at (cf. Phil 2:6) or boasted of in order to achieve success and attract followers but rather a gift that he shares with the world for our salvation” (Pope Francis, March 9 Homily). The evil one attempts to deceive us into believing that God has abandoned us, yet in those very moments, the Lord draws even closer, offering us His redemptive love.
As the Lenten season unfolds, the Holy Father encouraged the faithful to rely on Christ’s strength to resist temptation, knowing that the ultimate victory belongs to God. “Our testing does not end in failure, because, in Christ, we are redeemed from evil,” he proclaimed. “Jesus himself opens up before us this new path of liberation and redemption” (Pope Francis, March 9 Homily).
The pope concluded his message with a special blessing for the volunteers present at the Jubilee for the World of Volunteering and invoked the Holy Spirit to guide all Christians on their Lenten journey. As we progress toward Holy Week and Easter—the central mystery of our faith—his words remind us that our struggles, when entrusted to Christ, become avenues for transformation and renewal.
During this Lenten season, let us take to heart the words of Pope Francis, embracing God’s infinite mercy and trusting in the victory of Christ over every temptation. Let us walk confidently in faith, knowing that no trial or defeat is ever final in the eyes of our loving Redeemer.
