The Harvest Moon

On a clear night this past week, you might have seen a bright full moon. The Harvest Moon is the name given to this full moon that occurs nearest to the Autumnal Equinox.

This year, the Autumnal Equinox occurs this Sunday at 12:44pm. Historically, the light of the Harvest Moon was said to enable farmers to work late into the night, helping them to bring in the crops from the fields. Thus, this is the time of the year when we Christians give thanks to God for the harvest and all the fruitfulness of the earth that He provides for us.

One of the most important traditional holidays in China, Taiwan and Vietnam is the celebration of the harvest. It is also known as the Moon Festival at this time of year. In my last parish, I was always invited by the Keralean community to celebrate Onam, which is the biggest Harvest festival of Kerala.

Checking on the internet about this year’s harvest, I read that; “by 14 August, the UK winter barley harvest was now all but complete and only a small proportion left to be cut in Northern Ireland. Similarly, the UK winter oil seed rape harvest progress has advanced from 73% to 93% complete, while the wheat harvest reached 37% complete. Also, 22% of oats have been cut and 7% of spring barley.”

Harvest time helps us to remember that not everyone has as much as we do and challenges us to be generous to others. We at St Thomas will have the opportunity to do so on Sunday 6th October when we display our harvest donations for Catching Lives. This will happen at St Dunstan’s Parish the week
before.

Now is a good time for us to reflect on the essential theme of thanksgiving in our life of prayer. A great source of help is in the prayers of the Book of Psalms. Our Archbishop, John Wilson, has just given a short reflection on the Psalms that can be seen here.

Here are some of the Psalms that have thanksgiving as their theme. They can be the starting point of our prayer of thanksgiving.

Psalm 107:1-9 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever.
Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and all within me, his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.
Psalm 100:1-5 Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness, come before him singing for joy.

A thankful heart to God for all we harvest.