Grab as much as you can while you can. The theme for Fat Tuesday. We know this is a cheap holiday. It is storing a treasure of pleasure for ourselves, hopefully none of it mortally sinful, before the desert days of Lent that start tomorrow. Since we will supposedly make up for it by sincere fasting in the days ahead, I suppose a little feasting is permissible. But the idea of trying to dull the pain of the next forty days in advance through indulgence is not a holy idea. It is a cheap holiday, if we take the holiday to its extreme. A nice little party with friends that includes some moderation is probably ok. We should enjoy the day. But eating and drinking yourself sick will only make Ash Wednesday that much worse.
We do not have scriptures that match the theme of feasting today. That's because Mardi Gras is not a liturgical holiday. We could have guessed that. It is not another St. Patrick's Day. The scriptures today from Sirach and the Gospel of Mark are about waiting in hope, and putting ourselves last in line. The theme of Mardi Gras - grab what you can get - is just the opposite.
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned upon man, what God has in mind for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9). This line from St. Paul shows why people of faith hope that the good things God will deliver according to His promise encourage us not to seek glory for ourselves but instead desire to be as unaccomplished as children. What is more, we are to place ourselves last when it comes to indulging in the things of this world. We are not to shy away from adversity, for this adversity is the ordinary way one comes to trust in God and in His goodness completely. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent will give us a new opportunity to stop shying away from things that are difficult.
The reading from Sirach promises the road ahead will be fraught with adversity. It is hard to keep faith. The good things God has marked out for us seem mysterious and remote. The promises of God seem unrealistic, and this would be an excuse for us if we didn't know deep down that God speaks the truth and desire our eternal good. There are so many good things that are so much easier, so much closer. Lord, forgive us when we choose less than the best. Keep our hearts set on the things that will never end. Most of all, may we wait in every circumstance to receive you, who alone are good, and worthy of all our love. May we know that you always see us, like a parent watching over his children. May your gaze be enough recognition for us. +m
We do not have scriptures that match the theme of feasting today. That's because Mardi Gras is not a liturgical holiday. We could have guessed that. It is not another St. Patrick's Day. The scriptures today from Sirach and the Gospel of Mark are about waiting in hope, and putting ourselves last in line. The theme of Mardi Gras - grab what you can get - is just the opposite.
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned upon man, what God has in mind for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9). This line from St. Paul shows why people of faith hope that the good things God will deliver according to His promise encourage us not to seek glory for ourselves but instead desire to be as unaccomplished as children. What is more, we are to place ourselves last when it comes to indulging in the things of this world. We are not to shy away from adversity, for this adversity is the ordinary way one comes to trust in God and in His goodness completely. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent will give us a new opportunity to stop shying away from things that are difficult.
The reading from Sirach promises the road ahead will be fraught with adversity. It is hard to keep faith. The good things God has marked out for us seem mysterious and remote. The promises of God seem unrealistic, and this would be an excuse for us if we didn't know deep down that God speaks the truth and desire our eternal good. There are so many good things that are so much easier, so much closer. Lord, forgive us when we choose less than the best. Keep our hearts set on the things that will never end. Most of all, may we wait in every circumstance to receive you, who alone are good, and worthy of all our love. May we know that you always see us, like a parent watching over his children. May your gaze be enough recognition for us. +m
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