Faith and Trust
The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's
unresponsiveness to the word of God.
Today in the Gospel
of Mark: we read about Jesus cursing a fig tree, you might ask why? Fig trees were common and important source of
food. Bad figs or a decaying fig tree was linked with spiritual decay. The
unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the
word of God. The prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the
desolation of Israel due to unfaithfulness to our heavenly Father. The history
if Israel is one long preparation for the coming of the Messiah. For faith to
be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the living word of God
and be rooted in love. You might want to read (2 Tim 3:16; and Gal 5: 6.)
In today's Gospel
Acclamation we read: I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will
last, says the Lord. What makes us a faithful people of our heavenly Father, is
listening to His word and being fed by Christ's body and blood. We also need to
be prayerful people to build on a strong relationship with Him. In today's
psalm: we also hear how the Lord takes delight in His people (Ps 149.) May we
learn to make our prayer lively and our worship meaningful for the joy of our
hearts and the glory of our heavenly Father fills us each day.
I would like to end
this reflection with this thought from Prepare the Word:
There are important
and timely questions to ponder, especially because these days many of us are
fixated on what we don't have, what we wish we had, or what we used to have. It
is good to be reminded that as long as we are still breathing, we have a
loaf---and probably many loaves---to share.
"He was
teaching and saying, 'Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house
of prayer for all the nations"?'" (Mk 11: 11-26.) Were is our faith and trust today?
Prayer is Good!