Learn from the fig tree

thought-for-sundayFrom the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters, cp

Sunday, 24th March 2019

  

 

I think Jesus loved trees. He talked about trees a lot! Mustard trees and Mulberry trees, vines, olive trees and especially fig trees! A few times he said we could learn from the fig tree. I also like fig trees and I think I know why. As children, we were always being dosed on Cod Liver Oil, Castor Oil, things called Senna Pods and other dreadful concoctions that I can’t remember. Most of them tasted awful and seemed designed to keep us running for a lifetime! No wonder we haven’t needed them ever since! But there was one we always liked, and it was called Syrup of Figs. Did you ever hear of it? I don’t know if it’s still being produced.

 In Jesus’ story today, the fig tree was planted in the good soil of a vineyard. Now that was unusual. Vineyards were for vines! And after three years in this good soil, the fig tree should have been producing figs and it wasn’t. So, the owner says, “Cut it down! It’s taking up precious ground” and the gardener pleads, “Please give it one more year. I’ll dig round it and manure it and if it still doesn’t produce fruit next year, then we can cut it down.” 

With Jesus’ stories, as you know, we’re meant to think about them, bring them to prayer, discuss them and work out the meaning for ourselves. I’ll just give you a start!  One thing this story seems to say loud and clear is that we are expected to be fruitful in life, especially when we’re planted in the good soil of peace and freedom, gifted with faith and hope and opportunities of all kinds. Most people don’t need to be told that. They want to make a difference, to give something back for all they have received. But some don’t. They’re ever ready to receive but not to give! Which group are we in? We also see from this story that God is ever ready to give us time to learn from our mistakes; timeto put things right and begin again. What does the ‘digging around’ mean, do you think? And the manuring? I don’t like the thought of that! But sometimes, the ground of our lives needs to be dug up, broken up, ploughed up by some loss or crisis, by some sickness or sorrow, some fear or failure before we become pliable and teachable.It’s often been said “There’s no breakthrough without some kind of breakdown” which we hate at the time and only later see was a needed part of our education.In the words of Kahlil Gibran: “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” Though I prefer to say ‘it can be’because, of course, it can also make us harder and more resistant, as we know well. Afraid to get involved in works of mercy for fear of more hurt.A wise man once told me:

 

“I never saw anything till I lost my sight!”