Seasons of Change, Seasons of Faith

As the days grow shorter and the air grows crisp, the season of fall greets us with its familiar beauty. Leaves blaze in shades of red, gold, and orange before falling gently to the ground. Fields yield their harvest, barns are filled, and the land prepares for its winter rest. The rhythm of creation in autumn points us to God, the Creator, who reveals Himself not only through His Word but also through the changing of the seasons.

Scripture reminds us that creation continually testifies to God’s glory: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. Day unto day pours forth speech; night unto night whispers knowledge” (Psalm 19:2–3). The fall season, in its colors and its quieting, speaks to us of God’s wisdom, providence, and love.

Fall is a time of harvest, both physically and spiritually. Farmers gather the fruits of their labor, and families give thanks for God’s generosity. In the same way, we are called to recognize the spiritual fruits God has planted and nurtured within us. St. Paul reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Autumn becomes a season of reflection: What fruit has grown in my life this past year? Have I shared God’s goodness with others?

The falling leaves offer another lesson. They remind us of the necessity of letting go. Trees shed their leaves not in despair but in preparation for new life. Jesus says, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). In this, we see that surrender is part of God’s design. Just as the trees release their leaves, we too are called to release burdens, sins, or attachments that keep us from drawing closer to Christ. Letting go may feel like loss, but in God’s plan, it prepares us for renewal.

Autumn also points us to the truth of our own mortality. The beauty of the season is fleeting, and it reminds us that our earthly lives are temporary. The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2). Yet as Catholics, we look upon this reality with hope, for Christ has conquered death and promises us eternal life. The fall of the year foreshadows the “winter” of earthly death, but also points to the eternal spring of resurrection.

Finally, fall leads us naturally into gratitude. Thanksgiving, both as a holiday and as a Christian disposition, reminds us that all is gift. St. Paul urges us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As we admire the beauty of the season and share meals with loved ones, our hearts are invited to lift in praise to the One who sustains all things.

This fall, may we see in the colors, the harvest, and the quieting earth the presence of God. Let us gather the fruits of faith, let go of what hinders us, remember our mortality with hope, and give thanks for all that God has done. For in every season, He is faithful, and His love never fades.

Blessings, 

Deacon Mike