In the first chapter of Genesis, during the fourth day, God made the great lights “to separate the day from night; let them serve as signs and for the fixing of seasons, days and years.” (Gen 1:14-15)

Very early in human history, people noticed that the luminaries of the sky marked not only the seasons, but they governed the times of planting and reaping, summer and winter and became the markers of human activity.

It is only natural that these seasons became shared in collective human memory and were celebrated in many ways. As God began to reveal Himself more to Abraham and his descendants, the signs and seasons were incorporated into sacred history and celebration as well.

The great feast of Passover, which recalled the liberation of the people of Israel was celebrated in a coordination with the seasons and the calendar, based on both solar and lunar activity.

This in time was enriched as Passover and Easter shared seasonal memories in common.

February 22, this year, is “Ash Wednesday” which leads up to the time of Easter and is the beginning of a Christian season known as Lent. The word “Lent” comes from an old English expression for “lengthen,” as people were noticing in the days that marked the beginning of Spring, the signs were not only in the sky, but in our daily lives as well. The days were getting longer, and human activity coincided.

The ashes that mark Ash Wednesday are derived from Old Testament meanings and memories. The first comes from the account of the fall in Genesis 3. God spoke to Adam about the difficulties of his work and finally said, “for dust you are and unto dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19) Fittingly, in time, ashes were also used as an expression of repentance. The choosing of 40 days for such a season prior to Easter, carries the memory of Israel’s 40 years in the desert, a time of testing and pilgrimage toward the promised land.

In the course of time, these seasons of both human activity and of faith were carried on in the life of the early Church, the people seeing a continuity between their prior experiences and their life in the present.

As Spring is around the corner, it is a great time for us to take note of both the human and the divine. God sent his Son to share in our life, that we might share in His, both here and hereafter. While we are here, let us walk with eyes of faith that appreciate how much God shows us, even in the present.

Pastor Fr. Bill Hodgson is the priest at St. Edward Catholic Church in Cassville. He may be reached at 417-847-4948 or stedwardcassville@gmail.com.