Homily for June 1, 2018.
“And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’” Mark 11:13-14.
Given that it was not the season for figs, what crime did this fig tree commit to deserve such a curse from Jesus Christ? Did Jesus say this simply out of annoyance or is there something deeper than what we see on the surface here?
Of course, Mark tells us that Jesus was hungry. This statement is not one to be glossed over because it reflects the great truth that God actually took our human flesh. Jesus wasn’t a ghost, he was a real human being; he felt every possible human emotion that we feel. Hence, he perfectly understands the human condition and this should be the basis of our faith.
The second point to note here was that this tree was attractive. From a distance, Jesus caught sight of it and decided to go close. Ordinarily, one would think Jesus went there to pluck fruits to eat but this was not the case because Jesus clearly knew that was not the season for fruits. However, when Jesus went to the tree, he was expecting to see the tree’s potentials; Jesus wanted to see its fruits even though unripe. And this is precisely where this story relates to our lives.
The tree was attractive from a distance but upon close examination, it was useless. For those who know about fig trees, the external appearance of leaves (that it was so full of foliage) is a sign that it has started developing fruits. Such an attractive tree ought to have had figs. Like this tree, many of us Christians are externally attractive yet empty within. This is called Hypocrisy. We give the world the impression of holiness and closeness to God, we draw people to ourselves, (we are crowd-pullers) yet deep down within us, we not only lack fruits, we even lack the potential of bearing fruits.
Jesus cursed the tree not out of hunger but because there was already something intrinsically wrong with the tree. For it to have had leaves without a single unripe fig shows that this tree was only there for show. It had lost the purpose of its existence. It was now good for firewood. As Jesus would say: “if salt has lost its taste, of what good is it anymore other than to be thrown down and trodden under foot by men?” Cf. Matthew 5:13, Luke 14:34.
Hypocrisy is living a lie. It is perfecting the art of showmanship (that people may see) whereas no single effort is being made by the person to grow, to improve, to change bad habits, to start bearing fruits. It is better for us to cease to exist than to be alive and yet dead deep inside. Just like the temple that appeared good externally but had become an extension of the market; a den of robbers, hypocrisy makes us look good, (makes us believe in our false sense of goodness) yet we become blinded to evils in our own life. We look at the outward decoration and we are happy but we cannot see that these decorations are coverings for un-repented sin.
In a sense, the curse Jesus placed on the fig tree prophetically became the fate of that Temple that was eventually brought down to nothing in 70 AD and has remained to this day a Wailing Wall. May this not become our fate too for failing to bear fruits. Amen.
The disciples of Jesus were surprised the following day to see the fig tree withered. Obviously, they didn’t expect Jesus’ words to come to pass so quickly. They didn’t realize that made in the image and likeness of God who created the whole world simply by speaking, we humans enormous power in our mouths. Jesus had to explain this great power noting that there are two things that prevent it from working; doubt and unforgiveness.
Words simply spoken are powerful. Words spoken to oneself are even more powerful. Words spoken to others determine the extent we get in life because every day, people respond to us based on the words we use in communicating with them. However, the words we speak to God are the most powerful, so much so that we can even command mountains and hills to move as God himself did on creation. But we must be careful to ensure that doubt and hatred do not contradict our words.
In summary, avoid hypocrisy. Christianity shouldn’t be about attractiveness, we must walk the talk, we must bear fruits, we must use our gifts and talents to the fullest, we must serve others as St. Peter admonishes in today’s first reading: “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another,… whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified.” 1 Peter 4:10-11.
We remember St. Justin today who was killed for his defence of the faith. We pray for his intercession as we continue to live out our Faith in these troubled times. The persecution of Christians never seems to end.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, free me from hypocrisy. Amen.
Happy New Month. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time. Memorial of St. Justin, the Martyr. Bible Study: 1st Peter 4:7-13 and Mark 11:11-25).
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