Fasting and Feasting

In the matter of 3 days we go from fasting to feasting. From after the Holy Thursday Mass until Easter Sunday we are asked to fast and then on Easter we celebrate with an Easter dinner. Have you ever thought about that before? Why do we sometimes lose our appetites? Nerves will have that effect on people, such as a bride and groom who may be so worried that things will go right for their special day that by the time the meal comes around they are not relaxed enough to eat much. Or what about those who are mourning the loss of a loved one? From experience I know the last thing that is thought about is food but we do need to eat so our friends and relatives tempt us with food that will sustain us. It is sort of like that on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Christians you might say lose their appetites. Meals are kept small and simple, we don’t eat meat or indulge is festive desserts or snacks. After the Easter Vigil the fast is over and we can begin celebrating Easter with a festive dinner and other things that remind us of the Resurrection of Jesus.

In most households dying Easter Eggs is a tradition why is that? Eggs are a sign of new life for sure but why color them? It is suggested that the rainbow colored eggs remind us of God’s life-giving covenant with Noah. Any meats that are served are thought to remind us of the paschal lamb that saved the Israelite from slavery in Egypt or the calf served by the father of the prodigal son at the celebration feast when he finally came back home.

In the book of Exodus the author talks about a place that is “a land flowing with milk and honey.” So, to remind us of that we may have sweet desserts to enjoy with our feast. Some of those desserts may be made with dairy products such as cheesecake. Even the chocolate Easter Bunnies are a reminder since most of them are made with milk chocolate since that is what most children like,
(Take Me Home, Too is the resource used for this post. ©1997, LTP, Paschal Triduum, page 51))

Keep all of this in your heart as you celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord and Savior over the next few days.