Third Sunday of Lent
On this third Sunday of Lent, we are presented with Jesus’ remarkable parable of the fig tree. We are told the story of a frustrated owner of an orchard who instructs his gardener to cut down a fig tree that has not borne fruit for three successive seasons. The owner reasons that the unproductive tree is just taking up valuable space and robbing the soil of nutrients. The gardener, however, still sees the possibility of fruitfulness in the tree and pleads with the owner to allow him to fertilize it and give it yet a fourth chance before destroying the tree.
The fig tree is an ancient symbol of fruitfulness. Its sweet produce is filled with seeds in great abundance, holding the possibility for the life of many future trees. In the Old Testament, Israel is compared to the lush and productive fig tree: “Like grapes in the desert, I found Israel; Like the first fruits of the fig tree, its first to ripen, I looked on your ancestors” (Hosea 9:10). But a barren tree is a symbol of spiritual decay. Just before St. Matthew’s account of Jesus cleansing the temple of merchants and money changers, Jesus curses a fig tree that has failed to produce fruit. “Seeing 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. And he said to it in reply, ‘May no one ever eat of your fruit again!’” (Mk 11:13-14). After he departs the temple, Peter notes “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered” (Mk 11:21). The shriveled tree is reminiscent of Jeremiah’s prophecy: “I will gather them all in—oracle of the LORD: no grapes on the vine, no figs on the fig trees, foliage withered! Whatever I have given them is gone” (Jer 8:13).
What are we to make of the gardener’s persistence in caring for this unproductive fig tree? The Gardener is the Lord who loves his chosen people and lavishes mercy upon them with seemingly reckless generosity. Time after time the people of Israel fall away to serve other gods and yet God matches their unfaithfulness with forgiveness and gives them yet another chance for spiritual fruitfulness. Does he not do the same with us? Time after time we fall into sin, yet the ever-compassionate Gardener prunes and fertilizes our lives, giving us never-ending opportunities to return to Him.
Lent is an appropriate time to consider our own spiritual productivity. What is the condition of our personal life of prayer and our relationship with the Lord? Let us open ourselves to the Lord’s gentle care for our spiritual welfare in these remaining days before Easter and cooperate with his life-giving action within our hearts.
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections