SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:6-9
the parable of the barren fig tree.
And he told them this parable: There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.
REFLECTION
In this parable we hear in the gardener’s plea an echo of Moses pleading with the Lord not to destroy his people after the Golden Cow incident. .“And I prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people, your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” Deuteronomy 9:26
We must bear good fruit for Jesus warns us, “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:9
What is this good fruit? Bearing the image of Jesus Christ will demonstrate good fruit. Following the Beatitudes and we will be blessed. We were made in image and likeness of God. That image got smeared by Original Sin. Jesus, Son of God, Son of Mary, is the perfect image we must imitate.
Like the gardener in the parable we must also pray and intercede for others who may have lost their way. Ask for God’s pardon and mercy and patience until that moment of conversion takes place, and new life blooms in those that have fallen dormant less they end up in the “furnace.:
SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:18-21
the parables of the mustard seed and yeast
Then he said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed [in] with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
REFLECTION
In these parables, Jesus points out how the Kingdom of Heaven grows on earth. The smallest action can make a big difference, like a mustard seed or yeast. We must all play our part in the growth of this Kingdom. Like a stone thrown in a lake of water our actions move out like concentric circles and where they end nobody but God knows. Jesus tells us in Scripture, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Respent and believe in the Gospel.
There is no witness to the Kingdom too small. It might be as little as being with crowd of friends and one of them says something the Church doesn’t teach. Rather than remaining silent, express the Truth as you know it, not like a hammer over the head but gently and compassionately. Ie “I believe if you check the Catholic Catechism I think you will find the Church teaches”…..You get the idea. But it is not only correcting misinformation, however, it is your whole life as witness to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
I can remember the strong witness of family members growing up, and others that encouraged me in my faith, seeing strangers at a grotto to Mary praying the rosary in silence, seeing my College professor attend the same Mass at SLU during noontime break, my first visit to White House Retreat and seeing for the first time men caring for other elderly men at services, seeing my wife praying before a candle she lit at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadeloupe….You never know who is watching and observing you….You are the Light of the World!
SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:22-30
the narrow door; salvation and rejection.
He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
I HAVE TAKEN THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
ROBERT FROST
REFLECTION
Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.
I am reminded of the Robert Frost poem, The Road not taken. Many paths have been opened during my lifetime as I am sure is true for you. Sometimes I went down the wrong path for a time but due to the grace and mercy of God I switched paths. There is only one path to salvation. Jesus is the Way, the truth, and the Life!
Many paths in this world may be more attractive and offer elusive promises that leave us still with a hole in our heart. “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” (St. Augustine) What path are you on? Where are you headed? What is your goal?
Our Creator set a goal for us when He created us, then confirmed in our Baptism. We were created to know, love, and serve God in this world and be happy with Him for all eternity in the next. Surely we do not want to hear the Master of the house say to us at heaven’s gate, “‘I do not know where you are from.
Do we want to be a stranger to God? I think not! God knows who He created. Do we? Surely, we want to be recognized. When will we start the process of familiarizing ourselves to the image of Jesus? What makes us think a stranger to God on earth will fit in for all eternity with this same God. God gave us free will…use it to know, love, and serve God here on earth that your friendship with God will be complete one day in heaven!
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:34
