The rubber is hitting the road for the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus.
Their sonar is pinging, and though they believe in Jesus, after all they have
been with Him long enough now - probably 3 years - and they are thinking:
- We do good work, we
see Him heal the lame, the blind, the deaf
- His teaching are
changing Hearts...and the crowds are getting bigger
- He seems to be feeding people not only with fish & loaves, but
also spiritually
- But trouble is brewing - the leaders are going to kill Him - and He
doesn’t seem worried
So the Disciples instead of “fessing up” to their faith, well they
“cover up” their faith in Jesus out of fear. Jesus knows their hearts, and know
what awaits them at the groan of the cross, and so He calls them forth and
tells them a parable – about the fig tree. To all appearances, it is a useless twig, not producing any fruit, just
taking up room in the orchard. But the gardener saw something in that fig tree
that gave him hope, and he convinced the property owner to give it one more
year. At the same time he was asking for one more year for himself, so that he
could do all humanly possible to revive the fig tree and give it the
opportunity to bear fruit. Both took a claim of responsibility and the desire
to make a significant change in the pattern and scope of life. The old way of
caring for the fig tree was not going to do it, so a new way would be required
for the gardener. It is so also with us. If our current way of life is not
bearing the fruit of mercy. If we are missing merciful moments, then we must do
all humanly possible to revive and give ourselves the opportunities to bear
fruit.
This
is why, while the fig tree is the focus of the story, it’s actually the soil
which is the most important. Its sort
like our own lives, if we look wonderful but our root is rotting – well in time
we too will not flourish. One thing that aides in this is when we take
responsibility for the times we mess up. Too often in our lives, when our soil
is not producing we blame others, seek to cover it up, claim someone in
leadership lacks or an institution has failed instead up “fessing up” for
ourselves the mistake and seeking to change. Failure to accept responsibility
for our failures prevents us from receiving the forgiveness from God we
desperately need. It also prevents us from experiencing that new beginning we
all desire.
Merciful
Moments come not just in solitude when we escape busyness. Merciful Moments
arise not just in transfigurations when we let God reign in our heart and life and
no one has free rent in our lives. But Merciful Moments come when we take a
hard look at ourselves - and say Jesus Son of the Living God Have Mercy on Me a
Sinner and then change! We have to Fess Up to our Mess Up!
As we get ready for our
Parish Mission next weekend - where is God calling you to escape from busyness?
Where is He seeking to invite you to see Him in a new way? But this week also
consider - where is God calling you to Fess Up? Make plans for the parish
mission and this encounter with the Lord this Lent. Without doing so - not only
might a new beginning escape you, but so too will a life changing Merciful
Moment pass you by!
