“One sows and another reaps.” Jesus, in John 4:31-38.
“If you don’t like what you are reaping, you had better change what you have been sowing.” Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur and author.
Today is Homelessness Sunday and also Harvest Festival here. The age old celebration of the agricultural year comes from times when dependence on the land was far greater than it is today with the availability of freezers and fridges, cans and packets for storing food. However, changing habits also mean that it’s much easier to live on ready meals, convenience food or take-aways with less being stored accordingly – for a city like London, it’s suggested that it would only be six meals away from starvation if there was a disaster of some kind. Sadly, in places like Gaza, the consequences of disaster and war are only too evident with so many civilians suffering or dying from malnutrition, although the welcome news of a possible breakthrough in the peace proposals may now enable food and aid to reach the places and people where it’s most needed.
The harvest here this year has varied due to the changing climate with root vegetables and grain being smaller due to lack of rain – the recent heavy downpours have come too late to make much difference in some areas – although the crops of berries, apples, pears and plums have been abundant. It’s a troubling time for many farmers, producers and gardeners, as for some councils where adverse decisions have had to be made regarding the continuation of allotments due to economic necessity, even though waiting lists for them are lengthy.
It was in 1843 that the Reverend Robert Hawker began the celebration of Harvest Festival at his church in Morwenstow, Cornwall, this being linked to the practice of the Children of Israel at the Feast of Tabernacles when they were commanded to ‘..observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labour.’ Exodus 23:16. This was when booths or tabernacles were made from branches in remembrance of the time in the wilderness when food was scarce and thanks were given for the food and farming that developed when the Israelites reached the Promised Land. It’s thought that, in the days of Jesus, around 90% of time would be spent in growing or preparing food and the Gospels have many references to farming, harvest and the land. Today, Harvest Festival remains one of the occasions when people may consider coming to church or helping with the proceeds of what’s gathered for it and, due to local need, the foodstuffs, toiletries and money given at the service here will go to the local Food Bank which supports the homeless as well as those struggling to provide for themselves as well as their families.
Although traditionally a time of thanksgiving, there could be a bitter harvest following the proposed peace settlement in the Middle East, when the hope of peace and hostages being released is tinged with sorrow for many as some hostages are dead and the death rate on all sides has been great, as with the war between Russia and Ukraine. Bitterness may also be a consequence of the terrorism at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester whilst its members were marking Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. There are references to a bitter harvest in Isaiah 5, when sour grapes were being produced in God’s vineyard instead of the sweet fruit expected. In the first chapter of the book of Ruth, Naomi declares that she is to be called Mara, bitter, following the death of her husband and sons, as God “has dealt very bitterly with me.” After three days without water in the wilderness, the Israelites found only bitter water to drink at Marah and grumbled about it – in these situations, there was good reason for bitterness but, with perseverance and patience, faith and hope eventually prevailed. The same is true today – the challenge lies before us all in the face of terrorism, division and hardship to overcome bitterness and hatred with the hope of peace, justice and love. That requires hard work and, often, forgiveness and a change of heart as well as the will to want this to happen. As the fruits of our own lives, families and communities are considered in the face of national and world events, how can a bitter harvest become a better harvest?
With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Priest Guardian.