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Dear Friends in Christ,
The autumn season officially began this past week. This is my favorite time of the year, as the various foliage on our trees and bushes is in full bloom before they start to fall away in late October and early November. The neighborhoods that make up our NE Seattle Catholic Community are naturally beautiful, made more so by the many gardens that adorn our homes and parks.
The Book of Genesis tells us that the centerpiece of God’s creation was the beautiful Garden of Eden, with fruit-bearing trees of every sort. God created the human being, male and female, to help tend the garden. And on the 7th day, God looked at everything he had created and declared it to be good, even very good. The garden would also be the place where our first parents disobeyed God and lost paradise. But God never ceases to love creation, and from the moment of our fall, he planned a rescue operation to save us from sin and death.
The creator’s beloved son, Jesus, entered into the depths of human suffering through his agony in the garden and death on the cross. A garden would also be the place where the disciples discover the tomb of Jesus to be empty and later come to experience him as risen from the dead. So, gardens, natural or made by human hands, become a reminder of God’s plan to renew life in every season. Our lives as stewards of creation center on our constant gratitude for this grace.
The changing of the seasons is a cyclical reminder, as the musical Godspell sings that “All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above. So, thank the Lord, thank the Lord for all his love!” Our season of stewardship is upon us once more. I invite you to join me in prayerfully reflecting on the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that we will decide to give back to God, showing our gratitude for all the good gifts around us and our trust in God’s continued providence for our lives.
A blessed fall season to everyone!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor