Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat? | February 28, 2017

February 28, 2017

I’m sure we have all either asked the question or have had to answer the dreaded question, “Do these jeans make me look fat?” Today’s gospel is a great set up for Lent and some Fat Tuesday food for thought. Peter points out to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you." Raise your hand if you have ever made significant sacrifices (cut the fat) for someone you love; perhaps moved to another state for your spouse, given up annual vacations to send your kids to Catholic school, taken in your ailing parent(s), etc. We have all probably experienced great sacrifice and in the depth of those sacrifices resides the level of intimacy of our love for the other. Peter’s statement, “We have given up everything and followed you” gives us a portrait into the souls of these followers and how intimate their love for Jesus was. They did indeed give up their fat happy lives, their businesses, their livelihood, their family time, and much more to be with Jesus. Little did Peter know that this sentence was also a foreshadowing of when they would also give up their very lives for Christ.

These disciples truly loved Jesus deep down in the core of their being and giving up everything for him was a no brainer. Think of one person in your life that you would without hesitation give ALL for, take a bullet for, do anything to spare their life or make them happy. Jesus wants to be that person AND Jesus is that person for you. Lent is a time when we choose to detach from the things that get in the way of us giving everything to follow Jesus. Lent is a time to “cut the fat” and to live healthier spiritual lives. I encourage each one of us to really pray about our Lenten sacrifice so as to make these next 6 weeks an expression of the depth of our love and intimacy for the one who loves us the most.

Fat Tuesday focuses on all the excess in our lives so that we can trim the fat as an exercise of love. I pray that when we look in the mirror today, our jeans DO make us look fat so that tomorrow we can embark on a new lifestyle of leaving everything to follow Jesus. Have a blessed and super fat day.

Reading 1 SIR 35:1-12

To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the 
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.

For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 AND 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,
'We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."