Day 41 - Bearing fruit

During the early days of lockdown in 2020, our younger daughter, Rachel (who had prematurely returned from university) was seeking a horticultural challenge! We had been eating quite a few avocados and she wondered whether or not a stone would germinate and grow into a plant. After consulting Google for instructions, the stone was placed in a jar of water, slightly submerged. After some time, a tentative green shoot appeared from a split in the stone and grew upwards. Yet more time elapsed and leaf or two appeared. Five years, two re-pots on the ‘tree’ is 5 feet tall. It becomes dormant in the winter and has to be kept indoors and resurges with new growth during spring and summer when we place it outside.

Will it produce any fruit? According to experts it does take several years to flower and produce fruit in the right conditions. As it is native to central America where moisture warmth and sunshine are in abundance the jury is out on that!

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21: 18 – 22 NIV

On this Monday of Holy week, we reflect on the journey of Jesus to the cross. After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the turning over of the tables in the Temple, Jesus returns to Jerusalem (from Bethany where he had been staying overnight) and before startled and shocked onlookers cursed a fig tree for not producing fruit. The fig tree and its apparent lack of fruit is viewed to be a metaphor for hearing the message of salvation through Christ but not responding to it – producing fruit. On a more literal level Jesus was hungry – figs being an everyday fruit were not forthcoming - the tree just produced an abundance of leaves (bit like my avocado!).

Here, Jesus curses the tree ... it withers and is destined to a fruitless demise. Most figs should bear fruit after a year of growth. There is an abundance of theological commentary on the spiritual significance of Jesu’s ‘inverted’ miracle, particularly on the outward ‘show’ of the activities of the temple which Jesus also ‘cursed’ when he overturned the tables of the traders. There is a serious message for us too. As Christians we have the responsibility to act on the word of God, to share that message with others and produce ‘spiritual fruit’ in our own lives. We know God is patient, loving and forgiving but as Christians we need to be genuine in our response and not just produce an appearance of commitment in the form of an abundance of ‘leaves’. Outward show of busyness and spiritual fervour doesn’t necessarily mean we have the true fruit that only the grace of God through Jesus can bring about in our lives.

Jesus is also speaking about belief – having faith. We may not always see the fruits of our witness to others or to our prayers, but we are asked to have faith and patiently wait upon God and his timing. So, on this Monday of Holy Week, let us be mindful of our ‘growth’ as followers of Jesus – not to be all leaf but to produce true spiritual fruit that provides true nourishment to those in our communities and beyond.

As for my avocado ... patience is needed and maybe one day it might just surprise us by bearing fruit!

Lord, we would grow with you

New shoots reaching out

Hands stretched upward

Like leaves newly formed

Soaking up your light and warmth

Lord, we would grow with you

Lord, we would grow with you

In sunshine and rain

In darkness and light

In cold days and summer days

From Springtime to Winter

Lord, we would grow with you

Lord, we would grow with you

And bring forth fruit

That is pleasing to you

Fed by your living water

Giving sustenance to others

Lord, we would grow with you

Amen

John Birch – faithandworship.com

Cathryn Clarke