Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
With the Autumnal Equinox earlier this week, Fall is officially upon us in the Midwest. This change of seasons seems fitting with today’s reading from Ecclesiastes (3:1-11), “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant….” Autumn is probably my favorite season, but it is tinged with a little sadness as I know we are leaving behind the long days and warmth of summer and heading into the sometimes harsh reality of winter, once again.
And yet, as I learned early in life, after winter comes the new life of springtime. The cycle and rhythm of the changing seasons is often used as a metaphor for the Paschal Mystery. Fitting with this theme and understanding that there is a time for everything, is today’s gospel passage from Luke (9:18-22).
The disciples (Peter in particular) identify Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, before Jesus himself has told them. This seems to disturb Jesus; the time is not yet right and he directs them to basically keep it a secret and not tell anyone. The gospel writer then tells us that Jesus reveals what is yet to come, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
We might say that the season of summer for Jesus and his disciples had ended, autumn was upon them, with the threat of winter looming. And yet, there was still the hope of spring, “on the third day.”
During this time of uncertainty in our country and world, it’s easy to lose hope. And yet these readings can remind us that change is inevitable, which during a time of darkness means hope for the light. If we are mourning now, let us remember that there will also be a “time to dance”; if we are weeping now, let us remember that there will also be a “time to laugh.”
Only God is unchanging, the God who created the seasons and sent us Jesus to show the way through suffering into new life. Spring will come again. Thanks be to God.
~Eileen Miller