Luke 13.1-9, 1 Corinthians 10.1-13
You are probably aware that our
Lectionary, the scheduled bible readings for each week, repeats on a 3 yearly
cycle.
Three years ago, in connection
with today’s readings I said…’I’ve got a cherry tree in my garden which
is at least 10 years old. Hopefully it will soon be in beautiful white blossom
which is most welcome of course, but the total amount of fruit is has produced
since it was planted would be enough to fill, well, a couple of coffee mugs. A
bit like the fig tree in the parable, I have thought about cutting it down but
live in hope that if I give it one more year there will at least be enough for
one cherry pie.’
I bet you are bursting to know what has happened since, in
fact I expect that you’ve thought of little else! I gave the cherry tree one
more year, I fed it, I pruned it and.. then I chopped it down due to lack of
fruit. You’ve had time and several chances I told it before wielding the saw.
The space is now occupied by a productive Bramley apple tree.
One interpretation of Jesus’ Fig Tree Parable could be to
see God as the landowner coming to Israel for many years seeking fruit, Jesus
as the gardener and elements of humanity as the fig tree. Despite failing to
reach fruition Jesus wants to nourish us and give us more time. But like many
of Jesus parables it offers a lot more potential than that which is immediately
obvious.
Many people are distinctly uncomfortable with the
suggestion that for many things there simply is no logical explanation,
accidents, illness, suffering, persecution. They like to believe that mankind
has conquered all, understands all, can explain all when the truth is that our
world has layers of complexity which we may never penetrate.
It can be a natural reaction to say ‘what have I done to deserve this’
when sadness and tragedy strikes. It’s not always possible to immediately turn
to God in strength and faith yet if we will let God travel with us, show his
love for us we can begin a journey where his forgiving love and offer of
eternal salvation is evident to the point that the question ‘what have I done
to deserve this’ shifts from a bewildered cry to one of thankful recognition.
As we see horrors unfold in Ukraine there is a depressing
reminder today that mad men have been prepared to kill innocent people without
hesitation throughout history. Our Gospel reading begins with some people,
probably on a pilgrimage from Galilee, offering sacrifices in the temple when
they are slaughtered upon the orders of Pilate. Perhaps he saw them as a
threat. We are told that the blood of the people mingled with those of their
sacrifices.
It's against the backdrop of this that Jesus chose to go to
Jerusalem. I draw hope and comfort from this, there’s a sense that despite the
occupying Roman army and all the dangers they pose, God’s agenda, his message
of love, keeps grinding forward regardless of obstacles and opposition. Despite
whatever challenges we face, whatever evidence we see of humanities lack of,
well humanity, God wants those who choose him to keep bearing fruit in the
world.
Perhaps the Jews in Jerusalem are telling Jesus about the
slaughter of the Galilean Jews because they considered them less faithful than
themselves and were hoping that Jesus might affirm their prejudice and say that
they got what they deserved. Throughout the bible Jesus is invited to comment
by people who already know what answer they are hoping for and they are
regularly disappointed.
Perhaps they also hoped that Jesus would condemn Pilate for
a sacrilegious act and be drawn into the political situation. Perhaps
they hoped to rile Jesus to the extent that he would endorse some violent act
of retribution against Pilate and his forces.
Jesus simply directs those drawing him into the subject to
look inward, examine themselves and change their own ways. It’s so easy to say
that bad things happen, that so much is wrong around us, because of other
people when the greatest difference we can make to this is to consider how we
can further God’s agenda for humanity. Time spent judging others is time we
could be investing positively.
The people slaughtered at the Temple the others crushed
when the tower of Siloam fell on them, Jesus wants us to know that they are
likely to be no better or worse than most of us. Life can be unexpectedly short
for inexplicable reasons and we need to choose whether we are fruit bearers now
and turn to God, repent, turn away from the things we know to be wrong and
choose life.
Most of Jesus’ energy goes into positive reasons for
following him. He’s not big on criticism and negativity but he is very clear
that those with the privilege of power should not exploit, destroy and poison
the lives of others but serve them and their interests.
It’s
not difficult to find excuses that suggest our efforts to improve an apparently
failing world are futile and for this reason to give up and fall into lazy patterns focussed solely on our
ourselves. We often can be guilty of a similar approach to the Jews trying to trick
Jesus into saying things that make them feel better about themselves, seeking
excuses if you like. Yet it is clear that through Christ, God aligns a
functioning and fruit bearing world, one where nature flourishes, with one
where we also would flourish. To see the opposite of this it’s easy to bring to
mind split and charred trees in Ukraine which show humanity at its worst, depriving
opportunity for new growth and poisoning the environment in every sense.
Only
this week someone suggested that it’s ridiculous that we worry about things
like energy conservation when millions of tonnes of munitions are destroying
cities and people and the threat of nuclear contamination looms large.
Yet
we have to make choices, are we going to be pushed from what we know to be
right because of the evidence of evil or press on with even greater determination.
We
are and wish to continue being a religious community that bears fruit, what
would be the point otherwise?
We
would be a community that doesn’t contribute beauty to our world, which is out
of touch with the wider population, their needs
and interests. Our coming together would only be self-serving, trying to make
ourselves feel better, engage in a theological system which exists solely to
perpetuate itself and sticking our heads in the sand to problems which cannot
be ignored be they near or far.
In
short we would be sucking nutrients from the soil, using resources without any
intention of bearing fruit, fruit which has the potential to delight and
nourish. It would be as if we are
deliberately violating God’s nature.
I can
almost hear you reaching for the saw, sharpening the axe, ready to pass it to
God so he can remove this waste of space and replace it with something
productive.
It’s
worth us each reflecting upon what it really means to flourish and realise at
least some of our potential.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians includes a note of caution, ‘so if you
think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.’ Really this links with
the obvious need to nourish and nurture our faith. To understand the difference
between accepting that we are loved and forgiven versus being lazy even to the
extent that we no longer want to foster the relationship through prayer, no
longer bother involving God in both our happy times and our struggles, and no
longer want to learn more of God’s nature through scripture which has more to
reveal to us than we have days on earth. In short don’t let our faith become
complacent, keep seeking opportunities to make God’s love known.
When the people told Jesus of the Galileans being slaughtered in the
temple they didn’t spare him the gory detail. As horrific as this was then and
other events are today we must note that he reminded them of their own
mortality and their need to accept God’s love for them while they still had
time. In doing this he reinforced the sometimes difficult to hear truth, that meaningful
change begins with us.
It feels that now, during Lent, we should make time to reflect honestly
about the fact that if we accept that the love of God can be found in the
wonder of nature thriving, feeding the earths people literally and in other
forms of wellbeing what is the danger for us if we continue to inhibit its
potential to bear fruit?
Amen
Kevin Bright
20th March 2022
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