How Much Fruit Are You Bearing?
Friends,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the example of a fig tree. The master came looking for figs and found none. The gardener tried to feed and pamper the tree for three years and still no fruit … This a parable about you and me. God has blessed each one of us with wonderful graces. God is going to expect that we produce good fruit. However, we can waste our talents, and God will have to cut us down and make firewood.
During Lent, the scripture asks us what sort of fruit we are bearing. Are we bearing any fruit at all? Are we doing something for our neighbor? Remember we love God 100%, and we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We have all sorts of chances to share our resources with others: now the terrible earthquake in Chile and the on-going disaster in Haiti. We have lots of homeless people right here in El Cerrito and Richmond. We have relatives who seek our forgiveness and reconciliation. We have sick and elderly people who would love a visit or a phone call … These are our fruits. Lent is a perfect time to really produce good fruit.
Peace,
Fr. John
