The Unfruitful Fig Tree, the Third Sunday of Lent–Year C

My Sisters and Brothers: 

     In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents us with the parable of the unfruitful fig tree.  The story is placed immediately after a lesson about the universal call to repentance, and the eternal consequences faced by those who fail to turn away from sin (see Luke 13:6-9).  Jesus sternly warned his listeners that without repentance they would “perish” just as badly as other “sinners” who had met unfortunate and untimely deaths.

     It’s possible the fig tree in the parable may have symbolized those in his audience who were such sinners–that is, God’s people who had failed to bear spiritual fruits in their lives; the orchard owner then may be likened to God the Father who instead always demanded that his people remain faithful and productive; the gardener in turn may represent Jesus who lovingly pleaded with the Father for patience and mercy for those people who had failed to live up to what they were called to be and to do.

     The actual fate of the tree in the parable is left to our imagination.  We aren’t told if the gardener was given an additional year to cultivate and fertilize the tree, and we don’t know if he managed to induce the production of fruit or not; likewise, we aren’t told if the orchard owner’s initial desire to cut down the tree was realized immediately, one year later, or at all.  We do know the gardener pleaded with the orchard owner for patience and mercy for the tree, and that he was determined to stimulate the tree to bear fruit.

     Inferring from the parable, we might then conclude that although God’s people are not always faithful, Jesus intercedes for them to the Father, and then when stirred up by his grace, they are patiently given the chance to reform their lives.  We believe Jesus desires to give God’s people whatever they need to turn away from sin and to become spiritually productive (i.e., fruit bearing) children of the Father.  The result of such repentance, and consequent fruitfulness, is that God’s faithful people ultimately will experience resurrection from the dead and the fullness of life in the eternal garden of heaven.

     In the parable, it might have been easier for the orchard owner and the gardener if they had simply cut down that tree and burned it in a fire.  Then they would have been done with it, and they could have invested their valuable time cultivating more productive trees–no one would have even thought about the unfruitful tree once it was gone and another fruit bearing plant was put in its place.  With this in mind, we may come to realize that in our lives we have been, or may continue to be, like the unfruitful fig tree.  If so, how good it is to understand how very generous and patient our God has been, and continues to be with us as we sometimes struggle to turn away from sin and to follow the Gospel!

     And as we relate to others, would that we would be like the gardener in today’s parable, and be driven by the desire for patience and mercy when dealing with the shortcomings of our sisters and brothers!

     As we continue on our Lenten journey, may we continually reflect on our common and universal need to be a repentant people.  May we hope never to suffer the consequences of sin, and as faithful and fruitful children of our loving God, may each one of us someday enjoy the fullness of life in that eternal garden of heaven!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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The Transfiguration, and God's Mercy and Love, the Second Sunday of Lent–Year C

My Sisters and Brothers: 

     When we have experienced the Mercy of God in our lives, we understand that it has lifted us out of whatever struggle we have had with the “darkness” of doubt or sin.  We know that mercy, both received and given, enables us to live in the “light of hope” for both today and for all of our tomorrows.

     But isn't it true that sometimes when we face trials and struggles in our lives it’s difficult “to see the light at the end of the tunnel?”  We may at times be overwhelmed and feel uncertain about how to deal with the responsibilities given to us as members of our families, of our communities, and of our professional associations, such as those we have at our jobs or in our schools.  We may be burdened with illnesses, financial troubles, broken relationships, incomplete projects and/or unfinished business (just to name a few).  We might even have come to the conclusion that we are separated from God’s love because of our weaknesses and our sins.  The reality is that while we journey through this life there are times when each one of us may face such moments of doubt and even despair.  In those moments, “in the tunnel,” it may seem to us that there is no “mercy” and that only the darkness of uncertainty and loss of hope will prevail.

     I believe the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus, related to us in the Gospel today, provides us with a Christian perspective on how to face such trials and struggles; it counsels us about how to resist  temptations to wallow in doubt and despair, and it literally promises us a view into “the light” of future peace, consolation and happiness (see Luke 9:28b-36).  I believe such a future can only be understood from the perspective of a knowledge of the great mercy and love of God.

     The Gospel tells us that “Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.”  While there, the Apostles witnessed a miraculous vision of a transfigured Jesus.  According to the account, the Lord’s face changed in appearance, and his clothing became dazzling white, and he was seen conversing with the great Old Testament figures of Moses, “the lawgiver” and Elijah “the great prophet.” The Gospel tells us that these other two men also “appeared in glory.”  The Apostles heard them speak of things to come, about the trials and struggles Jesus would have to endure when he would enter Jerusalem.  Although the Gospel does not specifically disclose the words they spoke, we believe they revealed to the Apostles how Jesus would have to suffer and die in order complete his mission as the Savior of all people.  And the Apostles were both amazed and filled with fear as they beheld the sight and listened to the words that were spoken.  Then a cloud enveloped them and a voice from heaven was heard to say “this is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

     We understand this event gave the Apostles a foreshadowing of the difficulties that would come, but also a great promise of God's great mercy and love, and a future glory to be enjoyed by those who would endure until the end.  This was what their call to discipleship was all about.  God the Father himself promised them that if they would maintain their faith and “listen to him” that they too would someday enjoy the reward of “heavenly glory.”  And so too can we!

     I believe today’s Gospel clearly counsels us that when faced with trials, struggles, doubts and despairs, we must have confidence that as people of faith we will have a way to see clearly “the light at the end of the tunnel.”  This is possible for us because of the great mercy and love offered to us by the Father.  And so as we continue this Lenten journey, a time in which we reflect on our call to “turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” let us encourage each other to succeed in all of our earthly responsibilities – and as well to those that are part of our common call to Christian discipleship!

     My friends, may we also be sure and certain about the promise of God's mercy and love, and of future peace, consolation and happiness given to us through Resurrection and eternal life with Jesus forever.
 
Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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The Temptation of Jesus, the First Sunday of Lent–Year C

My Sisters and Brothers: 

     The Old Testament tells us the stories of Moses, “the lawgiver” and of Elijah “the great prophet.”   Before each ascended Mount Sinai and had unique encounters with God, and before they embraced their missions of service to others, these most important of Biblical figures prayed and fasted for forty days.  Although they were in fact called to greatness, neither could escape their humanity, and at times while praying and fasting, were weakened with temptations to flee from the responsibilities given to them.  But it was precisely because of their prayers and fasting that each gained the strength and the power to do what they were called to do!  And so to Moses was given the Law of God that was to be shared with the chosen people (see Exodus 34), and Elijah was charged to bring to completion his prophetic vocation in service to God’s people (see 1 Kings 19).

     On this First Sunday of Lent, and recalling the “desert experiences” of Moses and Elijah, we are invited to reflect upon the “Temptation of Jesus” (see Luke 4:1-13).  Like them, Jesus also spent forty days of praying and fasting as a time of “preparation” for what he was called to do.  With this in mind, it’s no coincidence that we understand the mission and ministry of Jesus as the fulfillment of all of the Laws and of the Prophecies given to us through the Old Testament (Moses and Elijah were their standard-bearers, and for this reason would also be seen at the Transfiguration of Jesus in the days before his public ministry was brought to its conclusion).

     In Luke’s account of the fasting of Jesus in the desert, we find that Jesus as a human being (one like us) was tempted three times by devil: the first was to misuse his power in order to satisfy his own bodily desires, the second was to settle for worldly power instead of the eternal glory destined to him as the Son of God, and the third was to entrap people into a false understanding of his purpose by giving them only fleeting and passing (instead of eternal) reasons to pledge allegiance to him as the Messiah.  Of course, Jesus did not yield to the temptations of the evil one, and because he prayed and fasted, and even submitted himself to the test, we believe he completely understands our own sacrifices, our struggles and our temptations–and he gives us all the power we need to grow in faith, and to overcome any obstacles to grace!

     While certainly none of us have the stature of a Biblical figure like Moses, “the lawgiver,” nor of Elijah “the great prophet,” all of us are individually called by God to our own personal greatness.  Our God desires that we enthusiastically embrace the missions and the responsibilities to which we have been called.  As we strive to do this, we are invited during this Holy Season of Lent to give special attention to prayer, to fasting and to service to others.  With Jesus as our model and guide, and knowing these types of actions empowered Moses, Elijah, and so many saints and holy people before us, may we embrace them with faith and confidence.

     May we truly believe they will indeed strengthen us when weak, and empower us when tempted!  My friends, as we once again enter the Holy Season of Lent, may we use this time of preparation to respond without defeat to whatever greatness God has called us to do and to be.

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Ash Wednesday

My Sisters and Brothers: 

            Today, and as you know, with Ash Wednesday we once again begin the great and Holy Season of Lent.  I always find it a little ironic on this day when ashes are smeared onto our foreheads, that Jesus admonishes us in the Gospel to “take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,” and “when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting” (see Matthew 6:1, 17-18).  He also says in the same Gospel “when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (see verse 6).

            As we reflect on these words of Jesus, we should remember that the preaching style of Jesus often included hyperbolic statements that were meant to shock the sensibilities of those who heard him. When he exaggerated in this manner, he hoped to force his listeners into deep reflections about the realities they were living.  He wanted them to examine not just whatever religious practices he may seem to have been criticizing; he also wanted them to look deep within, and to examine thoroughly the real substance of their faith and their actions.  For example, it’s obvious Jesus didn’t expect his followers to always “pray in secret.”  After all, if that were the case, then we wouldn’t be gathered in this church today as a praying community of faith; we wouldn’t then cherish our ancient Catholic rituals and practices that so symbolically draw us closer to love for God and for our neighbors.  Jesus was most critical of the “hypocrites” who did what they did only “to win the praise of others” (see verse 2).  And he warns us not to do the same.

            In a special way during the Holy Season of Lent, we are challenged by our faith to pray, to fast, and to give alms.  It would be difficult for us as social beings and as members of vibrant Catholic faith communities to do such things only as individuals, outside of the public square, and in ways that others would be unaware.

            The point of Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel challenges each one of us to have deep faith rooted in our hearts, and not simply to follow shallow rituals, customs and practices that have no real substance or that are done simply for the purposes of self aggrandizement. In a similar vein, today’s first reading tells us to “rend our hearts and not our garments” (see Joel 2:13).  In other words, if the actions of our faith are not rooted in the sentiments of our hearts and instead are only done for outward appearances, then they are completely useless.  Again, such actions are completely useless.

            And so as we receive ashes today, and commit ourselves during this time to renewed prayer, fasting and almsgiving, may we also put clearly into practice the demands of our faith.  And may this faith be completely rooted in hearts that are overflowing with genuine faith.

            We also recall today that these lifeless ashes, so demonstrative of death caused by sin, will be completely washed away when we complete our Lenten journey and arrive at joy of Easter and the promise of New Life!

            Let us encourage each other by the way we embrace and practice our faith!  My friends, I pray that the witness we give to others, especially when they see those ashes that have been smeared onto our foreheads, will always give testimony to the love of God that motivates every action of our lives! 

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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