Fruit - in botanical terms - the seed bearing structure in flowering plants formed from the ovary after flowering. Most people hearing the word fruit - think of apples - oranges - grapes - berries - easily harvested from various plants. Less often - the product of any concentrated effort - the fruit of hard labor - the outcome of concentrated effort. Before fruit of any kind can be harvested - much work - effort must be invested. Soil needs to be tilled - seeds - planted - nurtured with nutrients - water from above - sweat from the brow - warmth from the sun - no one ingredient more important than the other. After many long hours - results finally seen. In time - all bear fruit.
In today's Gospel - the story of the fig plant - barren - not producing any fruit. The impatient owner suggesting to dig up - remove the plant - to stop putting additional effort in an attempt to harvest fruit. The gardener - refusing to comply - willing to invest more time - energy into the plant - wisely knowing that all will eventually produce if given enough time. So often we see the same situation with people - people who appear to be going no where - taking up space - non productive members of society. God knows differently - even with the worst - willing to give each of us all the time we need - to grow - to learn - to blossom into the gifts that we can be. Each of us is a promise - a possibility - to untold greatness - in small - grand ways. In this season of Lent - we seek that which will nurture us - prayer - fasting - giving to others. There is still plenty of time this Lent to bear fruit in your life - for yourself - for others.
Deacon Dale
In today's Gospel - the story of the fig plant - barren - not producing any fruit. The impatient owner suggesting to dig up - remove the plant - to stop putting additional effort in an attempt to harvest fruit. The gardener - refusing to comply - willing to invest more time - energy into the plant - wisely knowing that all will eventually produce if given enough time. So often we see the same situation with people - people who appear to be going no where - taking up space - non productive members of society. God knows differently - even with the worst - willing to give each of us all the time we need - to grow - to learn - to blossom into the gifts that we can be. Each of us is a promise - a possibility - to untold greatness - in small - grand ways. In this season of Lent - we seek that which will nurture us - prayer - fasting - giving to others. There is still plenty of time this Lent to bear fruit in your life - for yourself - for others.
Deacon Dale
