St. Luke 6:33-49: "33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.' 39 And He spoke a parable to them: 'Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. 43 For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and do not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.'"
Today is Shrove Tuesday. The day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. What is Shrove Tuesday? To "shrive" oneself, means to confess. Hence, this is the day in the Church year when the people of God, made their final preparation for Lent by going to Confession. In some Lutheran parishes, Vespers is concluded with the service of Public Confession, and then Private Confession is offered afterward, in preparation for the Mass on Ash Wednesday morning where the worshippers will receive ashes upon their foreheads in the form of a cross, reminding them that they are sinners who are in need of a Savior.
Shrove Tuesday has taken on different significance in different parts of the world. Here is an excerpt from Edward T. Horn, III's book The Christian Year, talking about Shrove Tuesday:
"The close of the period--from Quinquagesima to Ash Wednesday--has been a period for considerable celebration in anticipation of Lent. In the Middle Ages, carnivals were popular all over Europe on Shrove Tuesday which was known as Fasten's Eve in Scotland, Fastnacht in Germany, and Mardi Gras in France. In Italy masques were worn and folk comedies such as Harlequin and Columbine, Scaramouche and Pantalon, and Punchinello were presented. In Germany the Fastnachtsnarr Hans Wurst presided over the masquerade of gigantic sausages, pretzels adn beer kegs. In France the principal attraction was a fattened ox led through the streets to a barbecue. The French influence is perpetuated in the United States in the annual Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In England, the pancake is associated with Shrove Tuesday and Shakespeare's clown in All's Well That Ends Well remarks, "As fit as a pancake for Shrove Tuesday." In Germany, the doughnut came to symbolize Fastnacht. Both of these customs are believed to have been designed to use up whatever grease might be on hand before Lent began, during which its use was forbidden. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shrift, or confession, which was made before Lent began. It is a legal holiday in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida."
Thus far Edward T. Horn, III.
Today's reading prepares us for Lent in a different manner. It reminds us of the catechesis that will take place. In fact this whole reading, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, is catechesis. It is instruction in the commandments and teachings of our Lord. Therefore our Lord tells us that the person who is well catechized, will be just like their teacher. Our Lord Jesus may use His ministers to teach us His doctrines, but it is He who is doing the instructing. Therefore, the person who is well-educated in the doctrines and practices of the Church, will be like our Lord Jesus, meaning, the Holy Ghost will be working in them to create faith in the Heavenly Father.
The well-catechized individual also will crave to learn more and more from our Lord Jesus, just like the crowds who came from far distances to hear our Lord teach. He will also know how to better serve his neighbor. So that all the things that our Lord talks about in this pericope, he will take to heart and try to do a better job. More than that, the well-catechized individual will know that when he fails in serving his neighbor, that he has a Savior who suffered and died for him on the tree of the cross. He will know how to confess his sins, that is shrive them, and receive absolution from our Lord Jesus Christ, through the minister of God given to him by God.
Let us then today, shrive ourselves of all sin, seeking our minister to confess our sins, and receive absolution from him, for his absolution is as valid and certain, as if our Lord Jesus Christ, forgave us Himself.
May God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
