ASHES TO ASHES

We had pancakes for dinner last night.

Shrove Tuesday can be explained this way.....

WHY DO WE EAT PANCAKES ON SHROVE TUESDAY?

In Christian tradition, the 40 days before Easter Sunday are known as Lent. Christians mark the time that Jesus spent fasting in the dessert – 40 days – by fasting and praying.

(They abstained from luxury foods, such as meat, eggs, fish, fat and milk.)

Tuesday became known as Shrove Tuesday, this was when the eggs, butter and fat was used to ensure it was all gone for Lenten season. The easiest way to get rid of it was to make pancakes or a fritter. The tradition of celebrating Shrove Tuesday and eating pancakes began because people wanted to use up the tempting food that they were giving up for Lent.

It’s also thought that Pancake Day may also come from a pagan holiday where the round pancake was eaten to symbolize the sun, and was a way of celebrating the Spring.

The Mirror

I remember the BIG topic around our table as children on Shrove Tuesday was "What are we going to give up for Lent?"

We would usually give up our favourite food, drink , or snack and try not to complain about it every day. ha ha.

But today I realize that choosing to give up something for Lent is also about replacing the desire for those foods/drinks with a desire for Jesus. Every time I wish I could reach for that treat I reach for Jesus instead and think about all He has done for me and my family and friends. It gives me pleasure to have this kind of fast.

I have also learned that you don't necessarily need to 'give up' something to make a good and holy Lenten Season. I like to DO something as well.

It is valuable to do 'acts of kindness' during Lent ....and always of course.

Today is Ash Wednesday.

What is Ash Wednesday? 

Ash Wednesday — officially known as the Day of Ashes — is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. During a Mass, a priest places the ashes on a worshiper’s forehead in the shape of a cross. … The ashes symbolize both death and repentance.

Indystar

The ashes come from the previous year's Palm Sunday where the blessed palms are then burned and saved . I wasn't able to physically attend mass today so I couldn't receive the ashes on my forehead. But I still enjoy our online services and feel so blessed that we even have this option!

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Today is a good reminder that life is fleeting and soon our mortal bodies will return 'to dust'. Let us enter into this holy season together and look forward to the joys of Easter Sunday and our eventual return to Heaven someday.

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