Are you gathering your blessings? Bringing the proverbial tithes into the storehouse?
Harvest time asks us to celebrate the abundant blessings pouring in from a divine infinite source. To recognize and acknowledge the source is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of God, who meets our every need.
Around the world, harvest festivals are celebrated annually. Even during ancient times, gratitude was expressed through feasting for the return of a bountiful harvest, as noted in the book of Exodus 23:16.
The New International Version of the passage reads: “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.”
The “first fruits” were often dedicated to God, in recognition of His goodness. Turning to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, we find Mary Baker Eddy addresses harvest with a spiritual interpretation of this traditional offering: “Tithe: Contribution; tenth part; homage; gratitude” (pg. 595:22).
In counting our blessings, the words from Hymn 342 are an eloquent summation of our harvests:
“For sin destroyed, for sorrow healed
For health and peace restored,
For Life and Love by Truth revealed
We thank and bless the Lord.”
As we deepen our reliance on divine Love’s provision and ponder the transforming influence of the Christ power, we can offer our individual contributions of joy and gratitude.
“If such are the present fruits, what will the harvest be, when this Science is more generally understood?” Science and Health (pg. 348-349):
May you have baskets overflowing with the grateful fruits of all your good work.
Happy Harvesting!
With joy,
Marivic B. Mabanag
Executive Director
