Shrove Tuesday

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this man?’ They answered, ‘If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.’ (This was to fulfil what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’ After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, ‘I find no case against him. John 18:28-38

Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday depending on your culture and where you live. It is also Chinese New Year, the year of the horse. Many parishes will have pancake suppers, Mardi Gras events and some will have pancake races and pancake tosses. This Tuesday we live on the cusp of great change as tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and Lent begins. We are in a new lunar year, and we celebrate with frivolity as our world changes. Traditionally we used of all the fat before the severities of Lent are upon us. In our Gospel today, Jesus and the world is on the edge of his final passion, being examined by Pilate, although we know he is headed for the cross. We are invited today to remember we are always on the brink of something new, God's new possibilities and challenges we never imagined.

Glorious Creator, you bring changes to us

you offer us the space to dance and celebrate

and you love us and we struggle and mourn.

The world takes no notice of your works

hopes are dashed and suffering abounds

yet you are bringing us good new always.

Make us strong so we might face tomorrow

make us tender so we might live today

and help us turn into your changes with great love. Amen.