Today's Reflections
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
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Mk 11:11-26
11[Jesus]
entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at
everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the
Twelve.
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. 13Seeing
from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could
find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it
was not the time for figs. 14And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it. ...
20Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. 21Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. 23Amen,
I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown
into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he
says will happen, it shall be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. 25When
you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so
that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.[26]”
Reflection:
He
found nothing but leaves. As followers of Jesus, we are expected to
bear fruits of good works in and out of season. As his disciples, we
must do and perform good things for people in Jesus’ name. We must share
and show good things to others.
The
image of the barren fig tree means missing the messages of God and
failing to act upon them. The prophet Jeremiah says, “I will gather them
all in, says the Lord: no grapes on the vine, no figs on the fig trees,
foliage withered!” (Jer 8:13). A fig tree without fruits is barren; it
does not serve its purpose.
Our
life has a noble purpose. God created us for a worthy reason. God
called and chose us for his vineyard. We have a goal to achieve or a
mission to accomplish for God. We participate in God’s work, performing
the task entrusted to us, and producing for God. Our resolutions cannot
remain on paper. We must work and bear fruits, fruits that will last.
Are we living and producing
according to what Jesus is expecting from us?
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