Message from Our Rector, The Rev. Lisa Senuta
Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
We feast before we fast.
Feasting and fasting are part of the ancient practices of the Christian Faith. Feasting is the best. Who does not love to sit down to a meal of mouth watering food? We live in a culture that is able to feast every day. We have all we need and more. Fat Tuesday is about feasting and the joy of indulging in the delights of life.
The wisdom of our faith teaches us how easily our appetites get out of line. My kids for example think that desert is something to have after every meal. Recently, we took them out to breakfast where they ate chocolate chip pancakes covered in syrup. After breakfast Mabel, the three year old, asked what was for desert.
Shrove Tuesday is also about "shriving" or preparing for the fast of Lent. During the forty days it is brought to mind that if we feast all of the time we are missing out on spiritual riches that can only come through patience, prayer, and perseverance. Love for God and love for neighbor mean that we have to let go of self love, and self focus.
Lent reminds us that we must shrive or let go of the hindrances to our souls. There are things we accumulate that weigh us down and hold us back from free and abundant life in Christ.
As we feast today let us prepare for the fast. What will you shrive, purge or refrain from this Lent to make space for the real true feast of new life.
With you on the journey,
Lisa+
We feast before we fast.
Feasting and fasting are part of the ancient practices of the Christian Faith. Feasting is the best. Who does not love to sit down to a meal of mouth watering food? We live in a culture that is able to feast every day. We have all we need and more. Fat Tuesday is about feasting and the joy of indulging in the delights of life.
The wisdom of our faith teaches us how easily our appetites get out of line. My kids for example think that desert is something to have after every meal. Recently, we took them out to breakfast where they ate chocolate chip pancakes covered in syrup. After breakfast Mabel, the three year old, asked what was for desert.
Shrove Tuesday is also about "shriving" or preparing for the fast of Lent. During the forty days it is brought to mind that if we feast all of the time we are missing out on spiritual riches that can only come through patience, prayer, and perseverance. Love for God and love for neighbor mean that we have to let go of self love, and self focus.
Lent reminds us that we must shrive or let go of the hindrances to our souls. There are things we accumulate that weigh us down and hold us back from free and abundant life in Christ.
As we feast today let us prepare for the fast. What will you shrive, purge or refrain from this Lent to make space for the real true feast of new life.
With you on the journey,
Lisa+
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