(Mark 9)
The inelegant name Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is derived from the ancient Christian custom of using up all the in-house fat before Lent begins. Lent was a time of severe sacrifice when Christians did not eat meat or desserts made with animal fat. So they disposed of all the remaining goodies on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Like most good things, Mardi Gras has often been corrupted. Today it is sometimes celebrated in the spirit of orgy rather than of preparation for a devout fast.
The gospel today shows Jesus’ disciples similarly distorting his teaching. He has told them that he will have to suffer before experiencing glory. They, however, ignore his prophecy. Instead, they concentrate on which of them is most important -- who will rule the roost in Jesus’ absence. Their obtuseness might be comical like the Bob Newhart routine where Walter Raleigh tries to explain the satisfaction of coffee and cigarettes in the morning to a poor fool who cannot get it. But it is really sad since the disciples have now been with Jesus a long time.
If we wish, we might eat an extra piece of meat or drink a glass of wine today. But let’s do it with an eye on tomorrow. During Lent we will be taking stock of our sinfulness. We will strive not only to repent of foibles like playing freely with truth. More critically, we will want to understand how our selfishness has impeded us from growing grow more in love with God. This coming to terms with our sinfulness and repenting of it is what Lent is all about.
