Shrovetide - Transfiguration and Transformation

"Shrovetide, also known as the Pre-Lenten Season, is the Christian period of preparation before the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Shrovetide starts on Septuagesima Sunday, includes Sexagesima Sunday, Quinquagesima Sunday (commonly called Shrove Sunday) and culminates on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras." 

This Sunday is Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, which falls roughly fifty days before Easter. In the Western Christian Churches, it is the last Sunday of Shrovetide, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. It is also called Quinquagesima Sunday, Quinquagesimae, Estomihi, Shrove Sunday, Pork Sunday, or the Sunday next before Lent. (Estomihi is derived from the beginning of the Introit for the Sunday, Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in locum refugii, ut salvum me facias, Psalms 31:3.) The name originates from the Latin quinquagesimus, referring to the fifty days before Easter Day using inclusive counting which counts both Sundays. (Although even with the most inclusive counting the ten day weeks are only roughly applicable!) Traditionally, it was the third of the three Sundays (following Septuagesima and Sexagesima) of preparation for Lent. 

Similarly, last Sunday (7th Feb 2021) was the Second Sunday before Lent, also known as Sexagesima & Creation Sunday. Sexagesima means "sixtieth", the date falling approximately 60 days before Easter. The liturgical theme for Sexagesima is the Word of God, sent to renew the face of the earth. Since God continually creates and recreates, our relationship with God will determine whether or not the seed of His Word bears fruit in our lives. 

Quinquagesima precedes Easter by the same number of days as Pentecost follows Easter. It is a watershed in the Christian year and it is no coincidence that we encounter the Transfiguration Gospel at this time as we prepare to revisit Jesus' mission through Lent, Passiontide and Easter. In the Transfiguration Gospel, Mark 9.2-9 we are reminded that God accepts us as we are, thus Quinquagesima is a good day to rejoice at this acceptance and focus on the coming seasons of Lent, Passiontide and Easter.

The acceptance theme of the Transfiguration is absolutely perfect for our current reality. As society becomes progressively more divided over controversies surrounding lockdown decisions, vaccination and how best to remain an inclusive society by protecting the weakest and most vulnerable we must remain united at least over the premise on which decisions are made. I personally struggle with lockdown, the impact it has on so many which to me appears to exceed the protection it allegedly gives. What I do not dispute is that we should always strive towards inclusion. If God accepts us as we are, then we must aim to offer that same acceptance to others. Shrovetide is the perfect time to be thankful for God's acceptance of us - and to examine ourselves and our care for others.

Dr. Ian Paul writes eloquently on his blog Psephizo about possible interpretations of the term "transfiguration". The Gospel of Luke suggests a more profound meaning, that it is not Jesus - or Moses or Elijah who change, but the disciples' understanding which is transformed. I highly recommend reading it, I really enjoy Dr. Paul's insightful articles. (He also tweets under the account @psephizo.) 

Meanwhile as we start the Lenten journey once more, we should remember that the symbolism of the ash cross on our foreheads is threefold. It symbolises God's acceptance of us, indeed to be "Shriven", means to receive forgiveness, to be absolved of our sins. It is our cue to examine ourselves and our faith as we approach Easter, and a timely reminder about our place in society and how we view and care for others.