Things to talk about:

• What does it mean to be tempted? What are some temptations people face today?
• Share about a time you were tempted to do something that you shouldn’t do and, like Jesus, had the courage and strength to say no? Share about this experience.
• What would it be like to be in the desert for 40 days? (Watch the video 40 Days)
• Each time the devil tempts Jesus, Jesus responds with a Scripture passage. What is one thing you can do to grow in your knowledge of Scripture?
• What tempts our family away from serving God or from putting God first? For example, do we ever let things  get in the way of going to Mass?

Things to do:

• During Lent, we skip one song/prayer during the Introductory Rite. See if you can figure out which song/prayer is missing.
• Begin using the Rice Bowl. Review and edit the calendar ideas enclosed with the Rice Bowl. Assign a family member to be the accountability person for each week of Lent. (Additional rice bowls are in the Church foyer.)
• Exercise:  In order to endure the temptation in the desert, Jesus needed physical and spiritual strength. Decide on a  physical activity to do as family to build your strength and stamina: take a walk outside,  do an exercise video together, combine chores and exercise by picking things up, vacuuming, scrubbing, etc. This not only gets the heart pumping, but also gets things done!
   
   

Closing Prayer

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation: you make us hunger and thirst for holiness. Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation: you call us to true fasting: to set free the oppressed, to share our bread with the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to clothe the naked. Help us grow closer to you this Lent. Amen.   
 

Name those who need our prayers. Close with the Sign of the Cross.

Catholic Insight

As we begin the season of Lent, we hear about the temptations of Jesus. This shows us the humanity of Jesus. He was tempted just as we are tempted.  When we are tempted, we can look to Jesus’ example and trust in God.

Everything in God’s creation was made good. Sin entered the world through disobedience when humans allowed themselves to believe that they knew better than God what was good. Jesus being truly human was tempted but chose complete obedience to God in all his words and actions and especially his encounter with the devil. This brought him into conflict with the authorities, who put him to death. God raised him up, and because of his obedience, we are freed from the power of sin. (CCC 538-39)

Did you know?…. Forty is a significant number in the Bible. Israel was tested in the desert for 40 years and failed. Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights and triumphed over Satan. Go Jesus!

Additional key concepts for this week:

Lent– Lent is a 40-day, solemn season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, starting Ash Wednesday (Feb 18, 2026) and ending Holy Thursday (Apr 2, 2026). It prepares us for Easter through self-discipline, repentance, and reflection, echoing Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Lent is a season To turn away from sin, deepen one’s relationship with God, and prepare for the joy of the Resurrection. 

Temptations of Jesus-Following Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. The 40-day fast mirrors the 40 years Israel spent in the desert. The temptation of Jesus, represents his ultimate rejection of Satan’s lures—stones to bread (materialism), pinnacle leap (presumption), and worldly power (idolatry)—reaffirming his obedience to God’s will. Catholic teaching emphasizes these trials as real, demonstrating Jesus’s humanity, preparing him for ministry, and setting an example for overcoming temptation through Scripture and faith. Jesus, though sinless, experienced genuine temptation in his human nature. His resistance highlights the importance of Scripture and trust in God.

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Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection