Mardi Gras

Bonhomme Carnaval

I spent my teenage years living in Quebec City.  Part of the culture and heritage of that great city was and still is Carnaval.  The winter carnival is always a time of celebration and partying in the midst of what can seem like a long and cold winter.  There are ice sculptures, canoe races, a grand parade and the renown ice castle to mention a few of the features of this popular event.  Of course the partying is always over by the end of Mardi Gras - or in English we might say "Fat Tuesday." Why is it called Fat Tuesday and why do we eat pancakes on this day? Simply because Lent is a time of fasting and so the people would get rid of all the fat in the house to prepare for their time of restraint.  Pancakes and some other foods were a good way to use up all the fat.
In other circles this day is called "Shrove" Tuesday.  "Shrove" comes from the old English word "shrive" which means "to confess."  In ancient times the people would confess their sins on this Tuesday which is the day before Lent begins in order that they could enter Lent with their slate clean before God.  Some of the practices of fasting and confessing are not as prevalent in our world today but we certainly have kept the pancake part of the tradition going.  I don't think there is a church for miles around that is not serving pancakes tonight.
Let's think for a moment about the fasting and confessing.  We live in an age where self discipline and self denial are not popular activities.  When I grew up there were no parties in Lent, no weddings or other kinds of celebrations and in general this was a somber time.  While I am not suggesting that we need to revert to the rigidness of those times I suspect a little fasting and self discipline are healthy for us in all kinds of ways and that we abandon these practices at our own peril. The intent of fasting is that we might have the opportunity to take our eyes off the things of this world and place them on the more spiritual matters that tend to get crowded out in this busy life.  Some believe that fasting is a way of getting God's attention and thus our prayers answered but this is contrary to most Christian theology as I understand it.  We do not gain God's favor by our goods works, but rather receive it freely by his grace.  What we do gain from fasting is a closer relationship with God.
I am told that this is exactly what twenty first century people are looking for - an experience of God.  Why not give it a try this Lent?  You never know where it will lead you.