Louise McEvoy, Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Professional Pancake Eater

Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV)
Yet even now, says the Lord,
    return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
    and relents from punishing.

Reflection:
Starting in December of 2002, American Airlines charged a $50 fee for luggage bags between fifty to seventy pounds. In 2008, Delta Airlines introduced a $50 charge for a second checked bag, regardless of weight. Several airlines followed and it eventually became the norm to charge for any bags that were checked. In order to save money, many passengers only traveled with carry-ons. By 2010, Spirit Airlines began charging a carry-on fee. By 2017, both American and United… you guessed it…. started charging for carry-on items as well. In a 2019 article, cnbc.com reported the following: “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s annual airline baggage fee report found that domestic carriers collected nearly $5 billion in baggage fees last year, up from $4.5 billion in 2017 and $1.1 billion a decade ago.”

What does all this have to do with Shrove Tuesday? It is all about the cost of carrying your baggage. Historically, the name Shrove Tuesday comes from going to confession the day before Lent started and being “shriven” (absolved of sins). In England, this practice evolved into an attempt to use up the rich foods like eggs, sugar and fat, before fasting for the Lenten season. Pancakes became the popular dish with these ingredients so Shrove Tuesday also became known as Pancake Day, or Fat Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras). Since all were encouraged to eat more plain foods and avoid food items that would give pleasure during Lent, there was a ritual to clean out the pantries.

In a more spiritual sense, we are asked to scale back during Lent. It is a period of focus, reflection, and contemplation. What better way to get in that mindset than to get rid of all the things that weigh you down? It’s not just the physical baggage, but the emotional and spiritual baggage as well.  Shrove Tuesday is our opportunity to assess the obstacles that inhibit our spiritual growth during Lent.  As mentioned above, it cost U.S. travelers $5 billion to carry their baggage.  How much does carrying our emotional and spiritual baggage cost us? At its best it uses up energy that could be used elsewhere. At its worst it could keep us bound up in shame, unable to boldly approach our Savior.

Yahweh tells us through the prophet Joel, “return to me with all your heart…” How do we do it? With fasting, weeping, and mourning. In verse 13, we are taught to “rend your hearts.” Let go and fast so that all your emotional energy and time can be centered on the most important One this season, and every season after. Let us release the weight of our baggage to the one who can carry it all.

Joel continues with the reminder to “return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relent from punishing.” What a gift it would be to bask in God’s presence, free from distractions- free from baggage fees. What a gift it would be to experience God’s love and peace this Lenten season, regardless of the earthly circumstances we are facing. What a gift it would be to continuously focus on the One who paid the ultimate price for all our baggage.

Prayer:
Eternal Captain of Our Flight,
As you begin the boarding call for this Lenten Season, we ask for your guidance and discernment to liberate us from our own burdensome baggage. Help us remember that you already paid the ultimate price because you love us at all costs. Provide us with all the tools necessary to make this flight a Spirit-filled adventure, with our hearts and souls solely on You. In Jesus’ most precious name we pray… Amen.