My child, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience. (Sir 2:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022123.cfm
When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials—what Wisdom! Today is Mardi Gras Day, literally Fat Tuesday. My home town, Mobile, Alabama, is where Mardi Gras celebrations began in the United States. In the days before refrigeration it was necessary to prepare for the coming of Lent (Ash Wednesday is tomorrow!) by using up all the animal products (carne) that could not be consumed during Lent (in which there were no baptisms, no weddings, no parties). So the time of carnival came about as a practical time of merriment to prepare for the great encounter with God.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Tuesday, Week VII, Ordinary Time (Mardi Gras Day)
