First Sunday of Lent – Year A: 22.02.26
Introduction:
On one Sunday every year we mark ‘Safeguarding Sunday’, this is that Sunday. This year it purposefully comes so close to the Holy Hour I led here in the Cathedral last Friday evening, for all victims and survivors of the horror that is child sexual abuse. A weekend in many ways to reflect on the wrong done, so often by members of the Church to deal with the pain and stigma abuse leaves. For someone who suffers abuse, for someone who is a victim of abuse, the abuse never ends, it may recede but its always there. We now light ‘the candle of atonement’.
The First Sunday of Lent brings us upfront with temptation in its many guises. We are just beginning the forty day journey; Jesus is at the end of His and it’s then these temptations take place. It’s important to contextualise His temptations and ours.
It’s never black or white, it’s the grey ‘in-between’ world, the dusk between daylight and nighthours where we are at our weakest! Temptation isn’t always will I or won’t I, but more “will I be caught?”, “sure what difference will it make?”, “isn’t everyone doing it?”…
… when we’re weak, we’re low, we’re rattled – temptation is of its nature very present and very real. Lets just pause a moment as we enter the first Sunday of this Penitential Season and seek forgiveness for past failings …
- Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father: Lord, have mercy …
- Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division: Christ, have mercy ..
- Lord Jesus, you intercede for us with your Father: Lord, have mercy …
Homily:
Pope Leo in speaking at the consistory earlier last month reminded us that “abuse itself causes a deep wound, which may last a lifetime”[1]. In my work as Bishop I meet victims of abuse who carry their pain with them for a lifetime. It never leaves them.
I mentioned last Friday’s Holy Hour. I’m always conscious of those joining us online then for that time of prayer. For some, even to enter a church building, a Cathedral, can in itself be a daunting task. Too many memories, too much hurt, too unsettling, with the result that joining online is their only viable option.
The temptations referred to in todays scripture, both in the Book of Genesis and in Matthew’s gospel can in the opinion of Fr. Billy Swan best be defined by the four D’s – deception, division, diversion and discouragement. Let’s unpack each one of them, firstly in the context of this evenings scripture and secondly in relation to the story of safeguarding on this island.
Deception – the devil sows doubt into the minds of Adam and Eve about what God said or didn’t say. Sure what harm could eating the apple from that tree do to you … deception.
Division – a wedge is driven between us and God, it happened in the garden of Eden and it was attempted in the desert. To get you to turn away from God … division.
Diversion – it’s so easy to get sucked in by the lure of pleasure, popularity and power. All the knowledge you’ll ever need, by eating that apple; all the kingdoms you can see are yours, if you fall on yoir knees and worship me … diversion.
Discouragement – the greatest of all temptations to succumb to is that we are not good enough, that’s why this years Confirmation theme is so apt: ‘Loved, Necessary, Chosen’. Discouragement suggests that there is no point in trying, the game is already over … discouragement.
Deception when it comes to abuse of children or vulnerable adults is having a most unhealthy and immature notion of control, deception is being told not to tell. Deception is to get inside someone’s head and never leave them. Safeguarding is the exact opposite. It’s telling, it’s reporting, it’s informing and it’s respecting … deception.
Division when it comes to the culture of abuse is not believing a victim, not hearing their story. Pope Leo at that consistory said “the scandal in the Church is that the door was closed and victims were not welcomed or accompanied with the closeness of authentic pastors”[2]. Division for perpetrators of abuse is playing one friend off another, one colleague off another, one family member off another … division.
Diversion is the temptation to think “that was in the past” and we sit back now and rest on our laurels! The very opposite, we must always remain vigilant. Safeguarding is always being on the look out for someone who needs support. While church structures and supports are robust, we still read court accounts of cases in families and in homes; research tells us of the rise in peer abuse, the abuse of children and young people by other children and young people. We are frightened by the slowness of social media platforms to take responsibility for applications that are misogynistic, toxic or debase particularly women and children … diversion.
Discouragement is giving up, it’s too much bother to have altar servers or youth readers; it’s too much hassle visiting that vulnerable old lady. Quite the opposite. We embed a culture of safeguarding when we do things well, with all policies and procedures in place. A parish with activities for younger children and youth, a parish with an outreach to the vulnerable, is a parish that is fully alive … discouragement.
As Church we can never say sorry enough, and sometimes saying it alone doesn’t ease the pain, but it is a start. As Bishop I once again apologise for the hurts of the past.
Safeguarding is not just a response to a crisis or a scandal, it is rooted in gospel values, the values Matthew’s Jesus speaks of on this First Sunday of Lent, as He held his ground in the face of evil.
[1] Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals: January 7-8, 2026
[2] ibid