And [Jesus] told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.'” (Lk 13:6-9)
We like to feel good. We like rewards. We like comfort. And, for the most part, we search for those things each day of our lives.
When it comes to discomfort, a lack of reward, and feeling bad, however, we tend to shun those things like the plague.
That is why today’s parable is so hard to hear. The master of the harvest was furious because one of his trees was not producing any fruit. He ordered the gardener to cut it down. The gardener asked for a year’s reprieve. The gardener would tend to the tree extremely well for another year and then, if no fruit appeared, would cut the tree down.
We are those trees.
The Lord looks for us to produce a yield.
When we do not, we disappoint the Lord.
There is going to be a final reckoning. If we have been found to be barren throughout our lives, we could be in awful trouble.
Let us do everything that we can to bear good fruit this day.
FAITH ACTION: In prayer, dedicate this day to God.
Into your hands, O God, I commend myself this day,
and all those who are dear to me. Let the gift of your
wonderful presence be with me even to the end of the day.
Grant that I may never lose sight of You all the day
long, but rather praise and beseech You, that my thanks
may come to You again at its close. Amen