Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday

DAILY BYTE

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the season of Lent. There will be reflections on the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent in the devotions later this week. I would certainly want to encourage you to make an intentional Lenten journey this year, and hope that the resource of these s you continue to use these devotions every day.

This day before the start of Lent is known in differing traditions by different names. In one tradition this is known as Shrove Tuesday. The word ‘shrove’ is the past tense of the old English word ‘shrive’, which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and doing penance. On this day, Christians were expected to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season of Lent. Which sounds like pretty serious religious stuff.

In other traditions this day before the start of the season of Lent is known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras in French. It is seen as a day for eating rich food and using up all the ‘fat’ in the kitchen before the fasting season of Lent begins. Which is why eating pancakes is often associated with this day. This idea of feasting and celebrating before the Lenten fast begins gains its fullest expression in the carnival type festivities of Mardi Gras celebrations. Which doesn’t sound like serious religious stuff at all.

So which of these two traditions resonates more with you? To obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and doing penance? Or to feast and celebrate? Certainly, most people, if given the choice, would rather go to a Carnival than sit in a confessional.

But what if the deeper truth is that these two seemingly differing traditions are not contradictory of each other?

Could it be that the way to true feasting and celebration lies in the truthful confession of what is really going on in our lives, so that we can be released from the baggage of our sin?

And could it equally be that the way to truthful confession lies in celebrating God’s abundance and feasting on the richness of God’s grace, so that we can find the confidence to come before God to seek the mercy that we so desperately need?

Whether you mark this day in any particular way or not, the traditions associated with it can be a helpful point of reflection as we think about what we believe, and the place of confession and celebration in our lives.

PRAYER

Gracious God, as the season of Lent is about to begin, help me this year to make an intentional journey through it. Remind me that without truthful confession of what is really going on in my life, I will never be able to celebrate the fullness of your love for me. And remind me too, that in celebrating who you are and your rich gift of life to me, I can find the confidence to approach your throne of grace. May this be true for me today, and this entire Lenten season I pray. Amen

READING

‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ John 8:32