I want to encourage you all to completely and fully celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday.
Yes, that's right, I want to encourage you all to completely get into the Mardi Gras spirit.
No, I'm not kidding. Go ahead and get into the Mardi Gras spirit.
You may be thinking: "Cool. Preacher's telling us to go out and get completely hammered, engaging in activities that I really hope no one is going to put on YouTube later, spending money that could be better used elsewhere on dresses and beads."
C'mon. You know me better than that.
What I want to encourage you to do as Mardi Gras comes is to take a look back at the historical context of Mardi Gras. Take a look back to some of the practices of the day over the past few centuries. Note that it was referred to as Fat Tuesday due to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritualistic fasting of Lent.
Yes, I want to encourage you to observe Mardi Gras fully. Take the day to reflect upon the fact that Lent is coming, and use Mardi Gras as a time to think about all the 'fat' in your life that needs to be cut.
In other words, use Mardi Gras not as a season or day of iniquity, but as a day of preparation for observing a Holy Lent. After all, if you are not preparing to fully participate in the 40-day season of prayer and fasting, what's the point of celebrating Mardi Gras? If not used for joyfully anticipating a season self-denial and introspection, then Mardi Gras is simply a waste of time and money.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
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