Pancakes. Why Pancakes? It’s Fat Tuesday!
In Christian history, Fat Tuesday has been celebrated because, at one time, meats, eggs, milk, and fats (sweets) were given up for the six-week season before Easter Sunday.
That season is called Lent. This year, Lent begins on February 14th and continues to Easter Sunday.
Something is given up by Christians for a season of time to remember what they take for granted.
Believe it or not, the value of Jesus can be what Christians take for granted.
Food, even pancakes, can be taken for granted when we get to eat all the time.
Jesus, when we take for granted what he did for us on the cross, can be taken for granted, too.
So, we stuff ourselves on Fat Tuesday to call attention to feeling full.
Then, we go hungry, giving up something and replacing it with feeling full in prayer and Scripture reading.
We spend the season filling ourselves up with knowing God’s goodness in Jesus.
When Easter Sunday comes, we feast again! We celebrate!
In the return of what we’ve given up for Lent and the prayers and Scripture readings we’ve done getting to know Jesus better, we realize that we have taken a journey with Jesus through our bodies and minds.
We have walked with him from his experience in the desert after his baptism, into his life with others, on to Jerusalem, then to the cross, leading to the tomb, and, finally, to resurrection.
So, that’s why pancakes.
Having pancakes today, then, invites you to go with us on a spiritual journey, getting to know Jesus and yourself better.
It’s your choice, but we welcome you to join us.
If you want to know more, if you want to participate with us, ask the meal greeter how.
Easter’s coming!