Commentary Intro to Mass Readings for Sunday
CommentaryIntro to Mass Readings for Sunday
February 22, 2026
February 22, 2026
1st Sunday of Lent (A)
Catholic Bible Dictionary
Scott Hahn
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The Word of the Lord
John Bergsma
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Jesus of Nazareth
Pope Benedict XVI
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Word Made Flesh
Christopher West
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Larry Broding
Word-Sunday
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Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
The Fall
What do you see as the pride of the world? How does the world succumb to pride?
Preaching on Genesis can often feel like treading overly familiar ground. We all know the story: the garden, the serpent, the apple, and the shame. However, Larry Broding’s commentary invites us to look past the surface of the “Sunday School” version and peer into the deep theological currents of the Second Creation story. Broding unpacks the narrative arc from the intimacy of God’s breath to the devastation of the Fall, offering a fresh perspective on the psychology of temptation that is startlingly relevant to modern believers.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- It highlights the intimacy of Creation: Broding emphasizes the powerful imagery of humanity formed from “mud and mist” yet animated by God’s very Spirit, helping you preach on the inherent dignity and fragility of human life.
- It exposes the root of the Serpent’s lie: The commentary digs into the specific nature of the temptation—not just disobedience, but the seductive illusion of “elevated stature” and the cynical suggestion that God lied to keep humanity down.
- It defines the mechanics of Pride: You will find clear language to explain how false pride replaces God with the self, creating an “inflated sense of importance” that displaces our Creator and our neighbors.
- It connects the Garden to the Desert: Broding masterfully bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments, showing how the cycle of illusion and sin established by Adam and Eve is finally broken by Jesus in the desert, offering your congregation a tangible “glimmer of hope.”
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation recognize the illusions of pride in their own lives and embrace the One who broke the cycle of sin.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.
Larry Broding
Word-Sunday
You have permission to use THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics above in your parish/ community bulletin.
Romans 5:12-19
Out Of Our Present Morass
Have your been tempted with despair? Have you ever felt hopeless? What did you do about the situation?
Paul’s letter to the Romans contains some of the most profound theology in the New Testament, but his “repetitious and even torturous” language can be a stumbling block for preachers and parishioners alike. Larry Broding’s commentary cuts through the density of Paul’s rhetoric to reveal the vibrant core of the message: while humanity feels trapped in a self-imposed prison of sin, God has provided a divine “escape hatch.” Broding masterfully juxtaposes the “Grim Reaper” of sin against the life-giving power of the Risen Lord, offering a roadmap for explaining how we move from condemnation to acquittal.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- It clarifies the “Two Models” of Humanity: Broding provides a clear framework for contrasting Adam—who sought control and experienced the “false fruit of evil”—with Jesus, whose faithfulness offers a new template for human existence.
- It decodes the Legal Metaphor: The commentary unpacks Paul’s courtroom imagery, explaining justification not just as a legal technicality, but as a restoration of status where the believer is “acquitted” and welcomed back into the King’s presence.
- It reframes Death and Life: You will find compelling language to describe how sin enthroned death as a monarch, and how Christ unseated that power to establish a reign of life.
- It emphasizes Victory over Despair: Broding focuses on the psychological relief of the Gospel, helping you preach a message that counters the feeling that there is “no way out” with the assurance that the battle is already won.
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation realize that through faith they have been acquitted of death’s sentence and restored to a place of honor in God’s royal court.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.
Larry Broding
Word-Sunday
You have permission to use THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics above in your parish/ community bulletin.
Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation
What little delights in life tempt you? Are they hard to resist? Why?
We often trivialize temptation as a choice between a salad or a donut, fiscal responsibility or a splurge. However, Larry Broding’s commentary elevates the conversation from simple self-control to the defining of true character. Broding argues that Jesus’ time in the desert was not merely an ordeal to be endured, but a necessary “retreat” to measure His resolve following the blinding revelation of His baptism. This commentary is essential for preachers who want to move beyond the standard “Jesus said no” narrative and explore the specific, seductive alternative messiahships that Satan proposed.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- It redefines the “Why” of Temptation: Broding posits that testing is often the necessary sequel to revelation, a time where we must “measure our own resolve” and ground our spiritual highs in reality.
- It categorizes the Three False Messiahs: The commentary helpfully breaks down the temptations into three popular but flawed views of the Savior: the “care-giver” (social safety net), the “wonder-worker” (magician), and the “source of power” (political ruler).
- It exposes the trap of the “Wonder-Worker”: Broding offers a fascinating psychological insight into the second temptation, explaining how a public miracle would have inflated Jesus’ pride and attempted to “trap” the Father into doing the Son’s bidding.
- It highlights the irony of the Third Temptation: You will find powerful imagery in Broding’s observation that Satan took Jesus to a mountain (a place of closeness to God) only to ask him to look down at the world rather than up to his Father.
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation understand that overcoming temptation isn’t just about resisting specific sins, but about clarifying who they truly belong to.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.