Mardi Gras
“I invite you, therefore in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial, and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. . . .” (BCP p. 265)
Self-denial: A counter cultural practice. Something done by monks, nuns, and other more intense religious folk. Yet a reasonable self-denial may be just what we need in our consumer culture. I have found that self-denial helps me discover the growing (or dying) edges of my life—my dependencies or even my outright addictions.
I try to give up something that disrupts my ordinary life. Self-denial which calls me to examine habits, emotional crutches, spiritual deserts. Who are we and how do we live into our true identity? These are questions Jesus wrestled with in the wilderness. They can be our Lenten questions as well. Consider self-denial.
Which leads, believe it or not, to Mardi Gras. These festivities only make sense in a Lent of self-denial. The pancake tradition comes from Christians giving up meat, dairy, eggs, and fat. They ate pancakes to use up these ingredients. In Cincinnati I discovered Polish Pazckis—filled donuts—even better!!
Carnival or Mardi Gras is a season of feasting and partying in preparation for the long, solemn fast. At carnival folks dress up in costumes that reveal their shadow side, or their temptations. All sorts of carryings on are part of the celebration—sort of an “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow” [Ash Wednesday] “we remember that we are but dust.”
So, this Sunday we will have beads. Perhaps you will want to wear a fun mask. We will sing and say many Alleluias and bury then Alleluias until Easter. Then at coffee hour you are invited and encouraged to Bring What You Are Giving Up for Lent! (Or something you might give up if you were giving up something to eat or drink—which you may or may not be doing.) Let us start Shrove Tuesday early and party on!
Finally, we will have Mite Boxes (named for the widow’s mite in Luke 21.1-4) also called Hope Boxes. You can use them to collect alms. As a child I put pennies and nickels—ordinarily spent on candy—in a Mite Box. As an adult, I now give in thanksgiving for the blessings I have received. We will collect filled Mite Boxes during Eastertide. These alms will be for the children at Bethany House.
May you find a holy path through a Holy Lent.
Bishop Nedi
