³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones

Good morning. Today is Shrove Tuesday, historically the day for being shriven in preparedness for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten disciplines that will follow.

To be shriven is to confess one sins and receive the assurance of God's forgiveness of our sins. This should follow reflection on one’s shortcomings - identifying those serious matters to be addressed during Lent, and given up, through creating new and better habits.

Shrove Tuesday was also for eating up the rich foods which were forbidden during the Lenten fast – meat if you were rich; and if you only had butter, eggs and sugar, well, they can still provide a feast of pancakes. In some places preparing for Lent turned into a longer period of Carnival, literally ‘Farewell to meat’, culminating in Mardi Gras, ‘Fat Tuesday’.

Carnival and confession are strange bedfellows. But I find good reason for holding both in mind as we embark on Lent.

Together, feast and fast span the human condition – from the relishing of the rich abundant life for which we were created, to our equal need sometimes to step back into reflection and repentance. Shrove Tuesday reminds us that the redeeming grace that Jesus Christ has won for us on the cross is for us in our abundance and in our contrition.

So let's remember that holiness can be found not only in Lenten fasting, but also in feasting, the foretaste of the heavenly banquet. And today, enjoy your pancakes!

Lord Jesus Christ, who feasted with sinners, give us courage to offer the full span of our lives to your redeeming love. Amen