Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
It’s the day before Lent, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, otherwise known as the last day of Mardi Gras, which used to be known as Carnival. In today’s world, we tend to either denounce Mardi Gras as indulgence in debauchery or indulge in Mardi Gras as debauchery. I feel as if we have forgotten the religious significance of Carnival and thus have lost some of the Lent’s beauty. Mardi Gras is now often seen as a last gasp indulgence in the hours before the penitence of Lent. While it surely contained some of these elements, Carnival, historically, was a celebration and affirmation of the world, in the hours before renouncing the world. These are not quite the same thing. We certainly renounce evil things. At the same time, we also renounce good things that impede our growth in holiness. Carnival, Mardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday, at their best can help us appreciate the very goodness of things and also their imperfection. Thus, they can help us better understand the beauty of sacrifice. Today’s readings help prepare us for that beauty.
The first reading, from 1 Peter, implores Christians to holiness. The time for indulging in desire and ignorance is at a close. We are called to set our hopes, entirely in grace. We are called to be upright, sober, and holy in all of our actions. Giving ourselves entirely to grace entails renunciation of the world, even the things we perceive as good. In this way, we are holy as Christ was holy.
The second reading, from the gospel of Mark, affirms our sacrifice. By renouncing homes, families, and land for sake of the Gospel, the disciples have inherited eternal life. The good things of the world, as good as they are, are destined to fade. The Gospel is eternal. To sacrifice these good things is to grow in holiness. It is to be holy just as Christ was holy.
In these hours before Lent, we should, I think, celebrate and affirm the good things that surround us. The affirmation can help us see the beauty of sacrifice and renunciation. It can help us prepare to a season of growth in holiness.
Today let us ponder in our hearts the goodness of life and the beauty of sacrifice.
Adam Sheridan