These days a lot of people want to portray Jesus as the
epitome of the sensitive New Age guy.
Alas, if you are looking for the huggable Jesus, you aren’t going to
find him in today’s Gospel reading.
First, he curses the fig tree. Next, he chases the money changers out of the
temple. Finally, he gives his disciples
a beautiful, yet challenging teaching on authentic faith. What’s going on here?
What we have today are strong examples of Jesus in his role
as prophet. It’s helpful to remember
that the primary role of the prophet is not to tell the future. Rather the prophet is first and foremost the
mouthpiece of God, calling people back to fidelity to the covenant.
Oftentimes, they would do this in dramatic ways which called
attention to their message. Sometimes it
was a miracle, other times it was a symbolic action like breaking a clay jar or
wearing strange clothing. The curse of
the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple are two such prophetic acts by
which the people come to know Jesus as a prophet. Once he has their attention, then he can tell
them what God wants them to hear.
In this case, it is a beautiful teaching on Faith. “Have
Faith!” Jesus says. Do not be barren as the fig tree, or
disobedient as the money changers in the Temple. Real faith involves bearing
fruit for the kingdom, having a vibrant prayer life of trust and confidence in
God, and turning away from all sin. If we do not turn away from sin, if we do
not pray, if we do not bear fruit, we are like this cursed, withered, dying fig
tree. We will be judged by the fruit we
bear.
Likely, with this vivid image of the fig tree in mind, St.
Peter wrote in our first reading, “The end of all things is at hand…be serious
and sober-minded…let your love for one another be intense” In other words, keep
the end in mind, that we will be judged according to our works, the fruit we
bear, or lack thereof. And make sure you
are following the Law of Intense Charity that the Lord laid down for each of
us, that he showed us himself on the cross.
Today, perhaps consider fruits of the Holy Spirit:
generosity, chastity, self-control, patience, kindness. Which of these fruits do you need to tend, to
nurture through prayer and action? What sinful or selfish parts of your life
does the Lord desire to prune, to cut back, that you may be purified and
enlivened.
As we receive Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in
the Eucharist today, may we fully cooperate with His transforming and
sanctifying grace that we may bear fruit for the glory of God and salvation of
souls.
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