Sermon On The Autumnal Equinox

Albert Camus, a French philosopher and novelist once remarked: “O light! This is the cry of all the characters of ancient drama brought face to face with their fate. This last resort was ours, too, and I knew it now. In the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

The autumnal equinox marks the official transition from summer into autumn. Summer is usually regarded as the warmest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere it spans from June to August and in the southern hemisphere from December to February. Autumn is the season of metamorphosis between summer and winter, characterized by lower temperatures, shorter days, and trees shedding their leaves, which often turn into vibrant colors. It is also a time of reaping and harvest for crops. As the college holidays move rapidly into their twilight, for many the childhood carefree days of summer have already diminished into a distant memory. Gone are the seemingly welcome bright dawns of sunshine for yet another year as we beckon the darker days of autumn from September to November, aligning with the autumnal equinox and preceding the winter solstice.

Autumn can be considered a powerful time for new beginnings, often seen as a "fall new year" because it's associated with the start of the school year, cooler weather, and a natural cycle of relinquishing and renewal in nature. It's a season that encourages reflection, setting goals, and embracing transformation, much like the leaves shedding to make way for new growth. As much as the long hot days of summer are cherished and loved by most, many welcome the coolness of autumn. Some specific demographics like younger people, prefer cooler weather for various reasons, including physical comfort, reduced heat intolerance, the perceived calming atmosphere of colder seasons, and the enjoyment of cold-weather activities like skiing or winter sports.

Others may prefer cooler weather due to a naturally higher metabolism or because it offers fewer bugs and a greater sense of solitude. Younger people often prefer cooler weather because their bodies are more efficient at regulating temperature, and they associate cooler temperatures with fun and freedom, whereas older adults tend to feel colder more easily and may associate cold weather with health risks. Studies show younger people are more likely to prefer cooler temperatures, while a majority of the general public, including older adults, prefer warmth.

The Christian Season of Creation begins on September 1st each year. This annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action to protect Earth, our common home, starts with the Feast of the Creation and ends on October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. The Season of Creation does not apply only to England; it is a worldwide ecumenical celebration for all Christians, from September 1 to October 4, to care for creation. It originated from a proposal at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Romania in 2007 and was adopted by the World Council of Churches. Christians around the world, including those in England, participate in this month-long period of prayer and action to protect the environment, reflecting the global nature of the initiative.

Prayer is of paramount importance at any time, but especially in the Season of Creation, as it is a time for people to reflect and renew their relationship with God and creation, express gratitude, and petition for the protection of the environment. Prayer is considered a fundamental and important spiritual practice for many people across various religions, serving as a way to communicate with a higher power, develop a personal relationship with God or Allah, express gratitude, seek guidance, receive forgiveness, and acquire comfort and strength in difficult times.

Prayer is considered at the heart and soul of communication and contact with the divine. Its importance stems from its role in spiritual growth, fostering a sense of connection, and bringing about positive psychological and potentially spiritual outcomes for the individual and the world. Romans 8:26 reminds us: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Prayer fosters solidarity and repentance for the damage to the Earth and serves as a foundation for the concrete actions and advocacy called for during the season. Romans 1:20 reminds us: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial activist, and political ethicist once remarked: “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” Matthew 6:5-8 teaches that true prayer is a private, sincere act between an individual and God, not a public display for human approval or a meaningless repetition of words to impress God or numerous gods. Jesus contrasts genuine prayer with the hypocritical practices of some, emphasizing the importance of private prayer to a Heavenly Father who already knows our needs. It reminds us: ”And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”