"Fat" Tuesday

‘Mardi Gras’ is French for Fat Tuesday, so named because – with Ash Wednesday the next day and weeks of Lenten fasting and other practices following behind – some say this is the day and night for eating ‘fat’ and indulgent foods, drinking and partying. 

At Ash Wednesday service as the priest or minister applies the ashes in a cross formation on your forehead, he or she will says something like: “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return". Lent is a time to consider the precarious position of our mortal humanity. As for 'eat drink and be merry' - the rest of that saying goes: "...for tomorrow we die". But if you knew for sure that tomorrow you would face your death, in thought if not in actuality – would your response be to party? 

For people trying their best to live a contemplative and spiritual life, I doubt that would be the plan; they would have a more serious point of view, and depending on their trust in God, hopefully, a deeply joyful state of mind. Aside from tending to whatever practical necessities would be needed, I imagine their (and my own) thoughts would be of looking at the life they have lived, any repairs or amends that require attention, but most of all, anticipating that soon they will be presented with the glorious mystery of whatever this great God may be. When we really do come to that moment, soon we will know. And all we have cared about and put together will be left behind and disbursed and what lies ahead is the Mysterious Glory that has sought us all our lives. 

When Bernadette was still alive a mutual friend of ours passed away, and I said to her: "Now he knows", and she answered, "Yes, now he knows all there is to know". On Fat Tuesday, I will drink to that.