Two years have gone by. The cities usually that were abuzz with funfair and gaiety would adorn a gloomy look. The villagers missed the local khell tiatr and the other activities of playing the doll-kas, etc. This will perhaps bring to mind the festive period of Carnival with the floats and arrival of King Momo. Certainly, this year has brought cheers to the people. These sentiments were expressed with joy by one of the gentlemen who writes short plays especially for carnival with a message for the people who wait to usher into the preparation for the greatest feast of the Church, the Paschal Mystery.
“I really want to enjoy this year’s Carnival” said the gentleman. I interrupted saying: three days carnival and what next? “A silly question! You know it’s Ash Wednesday, and a day of fasting” he replied saying: But, sincerely speaking, I do fast but not with food and drinks. There are many areas which I try to fast, as the Word of God says, “rend your hearts and not your garments”. I’m impressed you know the quote but the full version of the Word would give you clarity what Prophet Joel says in 2: 12-17, I said with a smile.
“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart with fasting, weeping and mourning, rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep…”
This is loud and clear — bridegroom and the bride even infants not spared and priests! Well, to return to God, fasting, weeping, mourning is a necessity. I may fast but if I have no love and still hold grudge over a misunderstanding or words said in temper, has no effect and value, neither makes the fast good. I may fast even without sipping a drop of water, nevertheless have no relationships with the members in the family, neighbours/work place, all the pain borne for fasting will be futile!
For its reason, the Lord says ‘rend your hearts and not your garments’. Therefore, my heart and mind need to be clean without any trace of anger and revenge neither pride nor jealousy. For some it may be gluttony, sloth, adultery and unforgiveness. I may see that my clothes are clean, indeed they look clean outside however, these same clothes when put in the detergent, we might see what we have considered to be clean turning the soap water into black. Subsequently becomes the state of our soul by these detrimental things we tend to hold on to for years.
With this concern the Church continuously offers her children ways and means to choose the narrow way and walk on the right path. Carnival is associated with masks, and Lent unmasking! Is it a time to do the unmasking of the veils?
