An Introduction to Shrove Tuesday
What are pancakes so central to the Lenten journey?
Shrove Tuesday is a day of feasting. It marks the conclusion of the Epiphany Season. On this day, the Church feasts before she enters into a more solemn and penitential season called Lent, which is referred to as a Season of Confession.
Shrove Tuesday is celebrated with a pancake dinner accompanied by eggs and syrup (bacon can be added–and it should!).
This day allows the Church to celebrate the abundance of the Gospel in our lives and the world. The glory of the Epiphany season is that Jesus has given us life and life more abundantly (Jn.10:10).
Following the rich feasting tradition of our Hebrew forefathers, the English-speaking Church has broadly practiced Shrove Tuesday for over 800 years.
What’s the Importance of this day?
Such traditions do not bind individuals or churches since it is not an explicit imperative in the Bible. However, if churches practice this, members must join in this festive occasion. It gives the Church another healthy excuse to fellowship and form greater bonds through a delightful and bountiful meal.
On the day before we enter into the Lenten story, Christians prepare rightly by celebrating God’s gifts to us so that we can rightly meditate, fast, pray, confess, and repent by remembering the sufferings of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
What if my Church does not do Shrove Tuesday?
Assuming the congregation is silent on the issue and has not taken any strong constitutional or theological position on the matter, then as a family, you are also free to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. You may also want to invite friends over to enjoy a pancake dinner and sing hymns of praise.
To Shrive
Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday is the day before the first day of Lent. Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent (Sundays are excluded from this number). Shrove Tuesday celebrates the Christ who has given us all things, including His own body, for our sakes (I Pet. 2:24).
Shrove comes from the word "shrive" meaning "to confess." As we celebrate, let us not forget that the Christian life is, as Luther stated, a “life of daily repentance.” Confession is not just reserved for Lent but for all seasons. Still, as we approach the Lenten Season, we receive a particular reminder (through our liturgical readings and singing) that a repentant heart is a clean heart before God (Ps. 51:2).
So, welcome to Shrove Tuesday! Let the world die in their banquets, for we will dine in the table of our Lord!
Nuntium
These last few days have been full of song and life. We hosted David Bahnsen this evening for our Epiphany lecture. David is a tour de force of economic power. He is fast and furious about free enterprise. That talk is already available on our YouTube page. You can also subscribe there to hear the recent talks from Ben and Bekah Merkle:
I am entering the Lenten fast from social media starting tomorrow. I am hoping to revise my Lenten meditations and post them here daily.
Also, I have decided to make all the special podcast episodes available for The Perspectivalist Podcast. While you may still wish to support me with the whopping $1 a month, you can unsubscribe. As of today, all ten episodes are accessible, including the first five-chapter review of James Jordan’s Through New Eyes. If you do wish to support my work, please do so here on Substack.
On Wednesday, I will post my first episode of Season 5. I am incredibly excited to play the intro/outro from Mr. George Reed. I think you will see more of his stuff out there soon. In season 5, episode 1, I talk about church music with one of my favorite people, the one and only Jarrod Richie.
I have my trip to Moscow, ID, coming up next week. I think there are a few unplanned seconds once I arrive. I hope to use those to make a snowman; otherwise, I will be unavailable with some great people in a confined space.
Happy Epiphany-tide! It has been lovely, hasn’t it! I am ready for Lent, while already anticipating Easter-morn champagne,
Uriesou Brito
Thank you for all you do and thanks for the kind words!