For many of Church’s liturgical
events, we sometimes dedicate the eve of the liturgical event with prayer, or worship
or a vigil Mass, such as the Easter Vigil. The Christmas Midnight Mass, even
Church services on Saturday evenings or feast days. Some type of prayer that
leads us to the special day itself.
Today is a little different.
Although tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the very first day of Lent, the eve of this
day is celebrated in an unusual welcoming of the Lenten season. Yes, today is
Fat Tuesday
Fat Tuesday also referred to as Mardi Gras. Yes, eat,
drink, and be merry, dance on the tables and party to your hearts content.
Because tomorrow we begin to hibernate from the material world, and bring
ourselves closer to Jesus.
We begin our journey, sharing the
suffering and pain of Jesus, following him to the Cross on Calvary, his earthly
death and his glorious Resurrection. For this we prepare, for our own death is
eminent someday. We prepare to die with Jesus from this world and to live with
him forever in the next.
There is a beautiful verse in
today’s Gospel to help us prepare. Jesus tells us “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the
last of all and the servant of all.” May not be a bad way to live out our Lent.
May, too, be difficult, but the more we try, the more we please God and the
more help he provides. Be sincere in your efforts and have a great and
meaningful Lent.
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