When I learn German, I enjoyed finding patterns in irregular verbs and had to learn from a table listing all the different tenses for these. Beginning with the infinitive, I would learn the different forms for that verb, listing the 3rd person singular in the present tense, imperfect tense and then the past participle (beginnen – beginnt- begann- begonnen, for example.)
There are, of course, plenty of irregular verbs in English which don’t follow regular patterns (especially in the past tense, which usually ends in -ed.) Shrove Tuesday reflects one of those verbs, with ‘shrove’ the past tense of ‘to shrive’, a verb meaning to hear the confession of someone, to assign penance to and absolve them. Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), is also known as ‘Pancake Day’, from a tradition where all the fat was used up to make pancakes before a period of fasting in preparation for considering what it cost Christ to die for our sins. Shrove Tuesday is associated with self-examination, considering what wrongs we need to repent and what changes we can bring to our lives to develop spiritual growth.
In many countries, Shrove Tuesday is associated with carnivals. Whilst we think of these things as occasions for celebration with elaborate costumes and music, the root of that word is ‘carne’, meaning meat or flesh. A carnival literally is a ‘putting away of flesh.’
Paul urges us to ‘put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature’ (Col 3:5) and to ‘count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.’ (Rom 6:11)
I find we are not as comfortable with talk sin and mortification (the technical word for putting to death our earthly nature) as Christians in the past. We somehow feel it is demeaning to admit to sin and to seek to be ‘absolved’ of sin, believing only Christ can forgive us and there is no need to name sin before a priest. It is easier for us to keep thoughts of sin to the general without being specific, but then we do not know the joy of specific forgiveness. We like the festive aspects of carnival far more than the putting to death aspects.
James says, ‘Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.’ (Js 4:8-10)
As we perhaps eat pancakes today, it’s good to ponder the religious significance of the occasion and ask for God’s help in putting to death the earthly nature, asking for the fruit of the Spirit to grow in our lives, for ‘those who belong in Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.’ (Gal 5:24)