Mardi Gras: the start of Lent 2016

These few days before the Church season of Lent (beginning tomorrow) have long been something of a thorn in the side of the Church. Shrove Tuesday (today) is the Church's day to be "shriven" - to go to Confession.

However it is also the day before six weeks of fasting so the people have their own agenda: it may be fasting tomorrow - but today it is feasting!

And so the day is also known as Pancake Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, (Mardi Gras in French). For the last thousand years the Church has tried unsuccessfully to calm it all down. The day has now been taken over as a tourist event in many parts of the world, or as a celebration of alternative sexuality.

The original purpose of preparing ourselves for a journey through Lent has largely disappeared.

I am not going to allow that to get in my way though. Today I am preparing myself for a spiritual pilgrimage that will last 46 days. I am heading to Easter - but my journey follows the path Jesus took in his discoveries and teaching about prayer and suffering - his exploration of where we are, why we are here, and where we are going.

Today is an important day of preparation for the journey - although people will join us along the way or do day walks with us.

I am just one small part of the body of Christ undertaking this journey. You can join me, your local parish, or walk your own path with your own reading and reflection. The important thing is to make the journey.

In today's world much of the path is overgrown. We need to remake that path - and the best thing I can do is take a small step each day, my feet trampling down the weeds.

My daily journey will be outlined on my meditations blog. If you would like to join me for all or part of my pilgrimage, I would be honoured.