1A Lent Sunday homily (22 February 2026) Reject temptations

 

1A LENT SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 4:1-11, Feb. 22, 2026

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli. MM

 

1. STORY

Two friends, David and John, went out to eat at a buffet lunch.  Both were amazed at the amount and variety of delicious food.  They filled their plates and after finishing went for a second helping.  Though they were both full, David decided to eat despite of John’s warning of the consequences of stuffing himself.  He succumbed to the temptation and took his third helping resulting in his getting sick.  He learned the hard way the important lesson − for your own good, resist temptations.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 4:1-11

A) JESUS IS TEMPTED

The devil tempted Jesus three times.

i) Jesus was asked to change rocks into bread.

ii) Jesus was asked to jump from the temple.

iii) Jesus was asked to worship the devil.

B) JESUS REJECTS THE TEMPTATIONS

Jesus rejected the three temptations.

i) He rejected bread which represents a desire for material goods by living a very simple life.

ii) He refused to jump from the temple which represents a desire for fame as he was a very humble person.

iii) He rejected to worship the devil which represents a desire for power by obeying the will of God.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WE ARE TEMPTED

Here are some examples of our temptations.

i) We are tempted to lose faith in God when our prayers for help are not answered. 

ii) We are tempted not to be kind and helpful to our family, friends and co-workers when they are not good to us.

iii) We are tempted to spend too much time on TV, computers, mobile phones, sports, and entertainment.

B) WE MUST RESIST TEMPTATIONS

Here are a few suggestions on how to strengthen our will to resist temptations. 

i) Make a good confession during Lent. 

ii) Attend a retreat if at all possible. 

iii) Use one of the Lenten (mite) boxes to help the poor by donating some of your money. 

iv) Make the Stations of the Cross in church or at home.

 v) Read the Bible, a spiritual book, or the Catholic newspaper.

 

4. CONCLUSION

We learned from the story that we help ourselves by resisting temptations.  Jesus resisted the temptations for the desire for material goods, fame, and power.  We resist the many temptations in our lives by going to confession, attending a retreat, helping the poor, making the Stations of the Cross, and doing spiritual reading.  A good Lent leads to a joyful Easter.

 

6A Sunday in Ordinary Time homily (15 February 2026) Avoid anger

 

6A Homily, Matthew 5:17-37, February 15, 2026

By: Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM 

1) STORY

Abraham Lincoln’s army general had some trouble with one of his officers and complained to the president.  Lincoln told him to write a sharp letter to the officer, which he did.  The general then showed the letter to Lincoln.  After praising the general for the strong letter, he asked the general what he planned to do with it.  A bit surprised at this question, the general said he was going to send it to the officer.  Lincoln advised him to tear it up and write another one now that his anger has passed.  The president said not to send a letter when written in anger. 

 

2) GOSPEL, MATTHEW 5:17-37

A) TO BE ANGRY WITH YOUR BROTHER

The fact is that sometimes we are angry with God, with our family, neighbors and even with ourselves.

B) YOU WILL BE LIABLE TO JUDGMENT

Jesus teaches us that we will be punished for being angry.  Certainly, one punishment will be that we will be unhappy. 

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) ANGER IN OUR LIVES

i) We are angry with God if he does not answer our prayers.  We think he has forgotten us or does not care about our sufferings and problems.  It is useless to depend on him for help.  It is better to believe that he is powerless or does not exist.   

ii) We are angry with our family, friends, co-workers, Catholics, and neighbors.  They have hurt us by their words or actions.  They have not come to our help when we were in need.  They have hurt our reputation by lying or exaggerating our weaknesses.   

iii) We are even angry at ourselves because we have made stupid mistakes, have failed to achieve our goals, and because we are unhappy. 

B) AVOID ANGER

i) God loves us, cares for us, and wishes us to be happy.  He is wiser than we are.  He will give us strength to carry out his plan for us.  He will give us the wisdom to know what to do.  We must keep asking for his help and above all never abandon him.   

ii) We must remember that others are weak, busy, and have to carry their own crosses.  Do not demand too much from them.  Be grateful for any help you receive from them.   

iii) We must not demand too much from ourselves.  We will gradually continue to improve.  We must do our best and leave the rest to God. 

 

4) CONCLUSION

Lincoln gave wise advice to the angry general.  Jesus teaches us that being angry will result in serious consequences for us. We must avoid anger.

5A Sunday in Ordinary Time homily (08 February 2026) You are important

 

5A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 5:13-16 February 8, 2026

By: Fr. Vincent Corbelli 

1) STORY

As soon as a fierce tiger saw a person, he ate him.  The tiger promised a friend that he was going to change this bad habit.  If he saw a Catholic, he would not eat him.  However, a few days later he saw a Catholic and ate him, leaving only the lips.  When his friend reminded him of his promise not to eat Catholics, he replied that he smelled the man but could not find the smell of a Catholic except for his lips.  So, he ate the man leaving only the lips saying that the man spoke like a Catholic but did not act like a Catholic.  He was a Catholic in name only.

 

2) GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-16

A) YOU ARE SALT AND YOU ARE LIGHT

Salt and light were very important in the past and today.  Salt was used for preserving food, such as meat and fish, in the days when there were no refrigerators.  It is used to season food.  There were no electric lights in Jesus’ time so light from oil lamps was important for working, guiding people, and for safety reasons.

B) YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE BEFORE OTHERS

For salt and light to be useful, they must be used.  Salt must be sprinkled on food to preserve and season it.  It is of no use if kept in a container. Light must be placed on a lampstand and not under a bushel as to help people see.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) YOU ARE IMPORTANT

Just as salt and light are important, so are you.  You are

important to your family, to your friends, to your employer, to your church, and above all to Jesus.  You are brothers and sisters of Jesus, and you are his disciples.  For example, during Mass the following are important: the altar servers, lectors, choir and organist, ministers of Holy Communion and money collectors.  Jesus wants us to know that we are important.

B) YOUR ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT 

i) You are important to God our Father.  We must pray daily thanking and praising him and asking for help and for forgiveness.  We must go to Sunday Mass to hear his instructions and receive the Eucharist. 

ii) We are important to others.  Use often the following words: thanks, please, excuse me, and I am sorry. 

iii) You are important to yourself.  Make every effort to stay healthy by eating properly, getting enough rest, and learning to relax.

 

4) CONCLUSION

The tiger could tell a Catholic in name from a true Catholic.  Just as salt and light are important so are we important.  We must live as true Catholics in our daily lives by our prayer life, being good to others, and caring for our health.