Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday

1 O Lord, I call to you; my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; 

 lest, if you do not hear me, I become like those who go down to the Pit. 

2 Hear the voice of my prayer 

when I cry out to you, 

when I lift up my hands 

to your holy of holies. 

3 Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers, 

who speak peaceably with their neighbors, while strife is in their hearts. 

4 Repay them according to their deeds, 

and according to the wickedness of their actions. 

5 According to the work of their hands repay them, 

 and give them their just deserts. 

6 They have no understanding of the Lord's doings, nor of the works of his hands; 

therefore he will break them down and not build them up. 

7 Blessed is the Lord! 

 for he has heard the voice of my prayer. 

8 The Lord is my strength and my shield; 

my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped; 

9 Therefore my heart dances for joy, 

 and in my song will I praise him. 

10 The Lord is the strength of his people, 

a safe refuge for his anointed. 

11 Save your people and bless your inheritance; 

shepherd them and carry them forever. Psalm 28

Today is Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. All over Christendom, folks will be flipping pancakes, eating chocolate and partying until the sun comes up. And then the world turns and Lent begins. Christian tradition has expected that believers will remove all fats and sweets from their homes, fasting and praying often for forty days. Many didn't eat meat at all throughout Lent and gave much up. Those who were to be baptized at the great Easter Vigil studied and prayed hard to prepare themselves. In these times we are much less rigid. Folks seem to like to give things up for Lent yet I would rather take things up, begin new practices, dive deep into compassion and mercy. As we celebrate tonight, however we do, remember we are called to observe a holy Lent, a time when we clean our hearts and minds in preparation for receiving the risen Christ.

Wondrous Creator, author of every season

you made our fragile earth turn to the sun

and gave up times of celebration and fast

so we might know you ever more deeply.

Tonight we will give ourselves to feasting

knowing we have so much to so tomorrow

fearful that the world is turning dark despite love

that our hope will perish with the rising sun.

Give us your love and renewed hope today

so we might prepare our hearts for resurrection

that we might be humble enough to be merciful

and let your love thrive in our world again. Amen.