Celebrating Harvest

Reflection given at Morning Worship with the Community of Brendan the Navigator on Tuesday 8th October 2024

Today, in this harvest season, we are celebrating and giving thanks for the bounty of good things we have received. God has given them to us because he loves us.

How has your harvest been this year? It’s been a bit mixed for me, as it may have been for you too. Plums and pears have been a disaster, due to a mixture of my bad husbandry and a late frost. I also lost most of the wild damsons in the hedge because I did not pick them in time, so there’ll be no damson jam this year.

But the apples have been excellent. I now have 4 supermarket trays of them in storage, which will last the winter, and I’ve been giving some away to visitors. I’ve made pickled walnuts for the first time, which are delicious with cream cheese. I’ve also had a good crop of cobnuts. Those that fell and the damsons on the ground have fed the badgers – they’ve been loving it, judging by the traces they leave. My wife Marty has grown delicious strawberries and blueberries for us, and the flowers in her labyrinth garden have given marvellous scent and colour all summer. My generous friend has left me a large container of honey he has extracted from the hive he keeps in our garden. And let us not forget the miracle of new life. I have a brand new grand-nephew Freddy this year - he’s a dote!

It is so very right that we should celebrate and give thanks in this harvest season for all the bounty we have received, even if we feel it could have been a bit better.

But not everyone has been so blessed with bounty. Think of the millions caught up in hellish wars. Think of those faced with rebuilding communities, homes and livelihoods after floods, storms or droughts. Think of the millions of refugees around the world seeking safety, but finding only distrust and hatred. How can they celebrate and give thanks?

It is hard not to worry that this beautiful and fruitful world God has placed us in is going to hell. But Jesus tells his disciples not to worry, in the reading from Matthew’s Gospel (6:25-33) we have just heard, set for Harvest this year. He tells them and us, ‘Do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” … For indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’

Worrying will do us no good, any more than it will help those who are suffering. It can only make us ill and miserable. Instead, Jesus calls us to action. He tells us to strive first for the kingdom of God; that is, to work hard to make this world a better place, more like God’s kingdom. Only then can we properly enjoy the fruits of the harvest.

So as we celebrate and give thanks for the harvest we receive, let us also rededicate ourselves to share it generously, and to fight the evil that disfigures God’s world, so that it may be filled with the peace and justice God wills for it.