Second Chances

" A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard..."

Luke 13.6-9

Second Chances

 Gospel for the Third Sunday of Lent: Luke 13. 1-9

As the husband of a very serious and avid gardener, this time of year is filled with anticipation, excitement, and occasionally, frustration. You see, our sun room is now a nursery, slowly filling up with germinated seedlings and transplants. I love going in and smelling the soil and seed - a preview of spring.

It can be, as I said, a little frustrating, especially when you do the exact same thing as you did last year, but instead of 70, 80 or 90% germination, you can get zero. Is the seed? The soil? A temperature change? Bacteria? Whatever the case, if you want those petunias, you have to start all over again, and try to eliminate the unknown factor.

 

This is why I generally stay clear of this part of the production- I'm all for taking the plants and putting them in the ground. But germinating and transplanting? Everything is just too tiny and delicate! 

 

From the many years we've done this, I have to say that I very much admire Shirley's patience and tenderness. It actually saddens her when seedlings die...

 

In today's Gospel we hear the parable of the Barren Fig Tree, which expresses the patience, tenderness and mercy of the Father through the salvific actions of the Son. 

 

First, Jesus sets up the parable by revealing to the crowds the misguided notions they had concerning God's judgement. He talked to them about the recent slaying of some Galileans at the hands of the Romans. The Jewish mindset at the time was that they must have been most sinful to have to undergo such a horrible death. Not so, says Jesus. In fact, 'unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." Jesus of course was not referring to their physical death, but to the death of their eternal joy with God. Jesus was turning their whole notion of God's judgement upside down.

He then tells the story of the Barren Fig Tree. The details in this parable, like all the parables, are worth exploring. 

 

First of all, a man plants a fig tree in his vineyard. Why the vineyard? Obviously not for profit, but for the sheer pleasure of enjoying the tree and its fruit. So it is with God, who created us not for any other purpose than for the sheer love of being in relationship with Him. No hidden agendas. Just love.

Then, he came looking for fruit on it and found none.. Does this remind us of a time when God "went looking in the garden" and could not find Adam and Eve?

And so he speaks to the gardener and says he has been looking  for three years and their is no fruit. Time to cut it down. "Three years" is the time it actually takes for a fig tree to bear fruit, but "three" is also an eternal number. We see here a connection between the fig tree and the whole history of Israel, the nation who would turn away from God, and return to Him over and over again...

The gardener then speaks up. "Let it alone for one more year. If it bears fruit, well and good, if not, cut it down." The gardener, Jesus, offers himself for the sake of the tree. It is our second chance. The owner relents.

The parable's "punchline" (they all have them) is about the bearing of fruit. You see, Jesus wants to make the point with us that it's all about the way you live your life that's important. Too many times we think we're all OK with God because, after all, we haven't killed anybody, or broken the other 9 commandments. So come on! We haven't done anything wrong...

 

The fact remains- have we done anything right? Right with God and our neighbor? Have we done anything to help the poor and oppressed? Have we done anything to bring the Reign of God closer to the full glory of justice and peace?

Have we bore any fruit?

For this week:

 

For those of us who are educators, take time with your students and colleagues to make a plan to hep the poor and oppressed. Work on projects that are mlore than just cash donation drives.

 

For those of us who are Catholic in the Archdiocese of Edmonton: This Wednesday March 6th, every priest in the diocese is available to hear Confessions all day, and into the early evening. His Grace has asked us to take advantage of this day of Reconciliation, to celebrate the Church's Year of Faith, and the Archdiocese's 100th anniversary.

Make every effort to receive reconciliation on March 6th. Your spiritual life will bear much fruit.