Rev. Takouhi’s Reflection… Lent 2026 – Trinity United Church

Dear Trinity United Church,

Where did 2025 go?

How fast Lent is looming upon us this year? In less than eight weeks after Christmas, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18, 2026).

What is Lent all about?

Beloved, over the centuries, Lent has been a time of solemn, quiet time, of giving up indulgences. Like Personal Comforts, Complaining, Chocolate, Sweets and Desserts, Alcohol, Caffeine, Gossiping, Excessive Shopping. In the recent years giving up TV, Social Media, Screen Time, and so much more.

However, maybe there is something different to be done at Lent and train us to be more than we think we can do. Maybe the story of temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, which marks the beginning of Lent, can guide us through the Wilderness to a place of finding Wholeness and Joy through Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter and beyond.

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the  wilderness, where he fasted 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2). It was at this time that Jesus experienced hunger and was tempted by the devil. The temptations that Jesus faced were: 1) turning stones into bread, 2) throwing himself from the temple top, and 3) worshiping Satan in exchange for worldly power (Matthew 4:3-10).

Beloved, these three temptations are not just unique to Jesus, but they also apply to us today.
How often do we worry about provisions of life? Hence, turning stones into bread. The scarcity of food in the world, the hike of cost of living makes us worry about provisions of life.

How about the stunt of throwing oneself from the top of the Temple? That is truly the fear of not being protected, and also testing God: If God so loves us, would God protect us? Do you know that Satan’s original name in Hebrew literally means the “adversary” or “accuser”? And so, true to his original name, Satan asks Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here …” (Luke 4:9) this adversary, or the accuser always has supporting evidence from scripture: “For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12). This tempter knows scripture inside and out.

The third temptation is to worship Satan in return to gain all worldly powers. Beloved, how much of this is a reality today in the world stage? How many people are “worshiping” politicians who believe that they are a god?

Have you heard about the Gaza Board of Peace established to oversee the administration, reconstruction, and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip following the recent Gaza War? They show future pictures of a Utopian City, a “New Gaza” where only the rich can live and all native Gazans are already exiled or killed. How can political leaders proclaim Peace and build a “New World” over the bodies of dead Palestinians, young and old?

Beloved, the 40 days of Lent is an invitation to all of us not to “Give Up” but to Participate. Maybe the term should be “Participate and Give” or “To Do Our Part”. To give a second chance to everyone. Bringing forth Wholeness – A Transformed and Resurrected life.

Jesus taught us that we cannot do great things by ourselves, but we can do small things with great Unity and Love. Together, as a Community of Faith, and a Global Community of Humanity, we can bring our Gifts, Talents and Finances, no matter how small or large they are, and change this world to the original sense that God created us for – Relationships of Love, based on Respect and Care.

Beloved, This Lent are you going to Give Up Something, or Give More, Do More, to make this world a better place?

Trinity is a Faith-Based Community whose priority is Hospitality, Justice, and Diversity – A Safe Space for all to work together and make this world a Better Place, like God intended it to be. This Lent, let’s journey together on this Path of Wholeness, which leads us to a Transformed and Resurrected Life.

I remain humbly within God’s Grace – Your Servant-Leader,
Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro
B.A., B.Th., M.Div.