Daily Meditation: Friday, January 22, 1999

There is a certain episode in the Gospels that has troubled …

01/22/1999

There is a certain episode in the Gospels that has troubled many Christians. One day when Jesus was hungry he saw a fig tree, but this tree bore no fruit because it was not yet the season. In exasperation Jesus cursed the tree, and at that very moment the tree withered. Obviously, if we take this story literally, it is indeed troubling. If it was not the season for bearing fruit, why did Jesus take it out on this poor fig tree? In order to interpret this episode correctly we must understand that, through the fig tree, Jesus is addressing a category of people whose hearts and intellects are non-productive. There are no specific times or seasons for us: we must be able to produce fruit, that is to say luminous thoughts and warm sentiments, at all times, because the Lord may come at any moment. He does not wait for the right season or announce His arrival in advance. The moment He comes, be it summer or winter, day or night, this tree which is a human being must be able to offer fruit. If not, this person will be abandoned by the spirit and, thus cursed, will wither and die. That is why people must strive to be ready at all times to produce fruit.