First Sunday of Lent 2026: Rev. Fr Pius Odediran Urges Faithful to Conquer Their Tempters

As Christians across the world mark the First Sunday of Lent, Rev. Fr Pius Odediran of the Osogbo Catholic Diocese has called on the faithful to confront temptation with courage, discipline and unshakeable trust in God.

In his Lenten homily released on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, the respected cleric delivered a message titled “Conquer Your Tempters,” reminding believers that Lent is not merely a season of ritual observance but a decisive spiritual battle. His daily Lenten reflections, widely followed by readers, continue to provide guidance and theological depth during this sacred season.

The Beginning of the Struggle

Drawing from the first reading, Rev. Fr Odediran reflected on the origin of humanity’s struggle with sin. He noted that salvation history began with a painful fall — the disobedience of Adam and Eve. According to him, sin is fundamentally a gross act of disobedience against the Creator and a violation of the natural order established by God.

He carefully examined the stages of Eve’s temptation, pointing out how desire gradually weakened her resolve. “The woman saw that it was desirable for knowledge. She took some of the fruit and ate it,” he quoted, explaining that temptation often begins subtly — with curiosity, desire, and misplaced ambition.

The priest warned that many people today, in their quest for advancement, power or knowledge, are willing to sidestep divine commandments. He stressed that suspicion and weak trust in God create fertile ground for temptation. “Satan planted suspicion, and Eve’s trust in God was weak,” he observed, drawing a parallel with contemporary moral struggles.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

In the second reading, Saint Paul traces the spread of sin to Adam, highlighting its devastating consequences. Rev. Fr Odediran emphasised Paul’s sobering reminder that death entered the human race because all have sinned. Sin, he explained, disrupts life, destroys peace, and breeds fear, hopelessness and shame.

Yet, he was quick to reassure believers that the message of Lent is not despair. While Adam fell in abundance, Christ triumphed in the desert. Through divine grace flowing from Christ, humanity is redeemed and acquitted.

“Death came through Adam, but life comes through Christ,” the cleric declared. He described Lent as a season of grace — a time when believers are invited to return to God and draw strength from His mercy.

Understanding the Nature of Temptation

Turning to the Gospel account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, Rev. Fr Odediran offered a practical reflection on how temptation operates in daily life. He described the devil as subtle, manipulative and strategic — often targeting individuals at their points of greatest need.

“If we are hungry, he tempts us with food. If we desire power, he tempts us with it,” he explained.

He applied the message directly to everyday situations. Those in need of money may be tempted to steal. Those seeking employment may be tempted to offer bribes. Students desperate for success may be tempted to cheat in examinations. According to him, temptation rarely appears as outright evil; rather, it comes disguised as an immediate solution to pressing needs.

Once a person yields to one compromise, he warned, further temptations follow in gradual steps. The enemy operates “one step at a time,” patiently leading individuals away from righteousness.

How Jesus Won the Battle

Rev. Fr Odediran highlighted that Jesus overcame Satan not by chance, but through preparation and spiritual discipline. Before facing temptation, Christ had already fortified Himself through prayer and fasting. He had mastered His appetite for ambition and vainglory.

Most importantly, he noted, Jesus was not alone. The Holy Spirit was with Him.

This, the priest stressed, is the blueprint for every believer. Victory over temptation requires preparation, discipline and divine companionship. Lent, therefore, is a training ground for the soul.

A Call to Action This Lent

Concluding his homily, Rev. Fr Odediran urged Christians to work intentionally on trust, obedience, prayer and personal weaknesses. He encouraged believers to remain firm in prayer, watchful in sacrifice and generous in service.

“Work on trust, obedience, prayers and weaknesses,” he advised, reminding the faithful that the Christian journey is ultimately a battle for eternal life.

As Lent unfolds, his message stands as both warning and encouragement — a reminder that temptation is real, but so too is the grace that conquers it. Through discipline, vigilance and reliance on the Holy Spirit, believers can overcome their tempters and walk in the life made possible through Christ.

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