On the first day of Holy
Week we are confronted with the powerful parable of the fig tree. This is meant
to challenge all of us about our weak faith and lax way of life. Are we not
like the fig tree, is our parish not like the synagogue of Jesus’ time?
The parable:
Now in the morning, as
He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He
came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit
grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
And when the disciples saw
it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” Matt 21: 18-20
Elder Theophylact
provides the interpretation of this parable passed on through the ages by our
Church fathers.
The fig tree means the
synagogue of the Jews, which has only leaves, that is, the visible letter of
the law, but not the fruit of the spirit. But also every man who gives himself
over to the sweetness of the present life is likened to a fig tree, who has no
spiritual fruit to give to Jesus who is hungry for such fruit, but only leaves,
that is, temporal appearances which fall and are gone. This man then hears
himself cursed. For Christ says, Go, he accursed, into the fire. But he is also
dried up; for as he roasts in the flame, his tongue is parched and withered
like that of the rich man in the parable, who in his life had ignored Lazarus.
If we truly examine the
way of life in a typical Orthodox parish here in America we should feel the
heat. We have many leaves with our rituals and traditions but many lack the
Spirit in their lives. Are we not caught up in the materialistic culture of our
times and pay little attention to the way of life prescribed by the church to
nurture our soul and its connection to the Holy Spirit? Are we satisfied to
rely on our own will to do good while ignoring many of His teachings? Do we
neglect the Orthodox way of life based on prayer and fasting, repentance,
regular participation with humility in the Sacraments, studying the Holy
Scriptures and writings of the Church fathers?
We need to ask
ourselves, are we on the path to theosis or just self-satisfaction. Do we have
only bold green leaves or do we bear fruit feeling the Holy Spirit working
actively within us leading us to do His will.
It is never too late to
change our ways to avoid being “withered” and cast into the “flame.” Our God is
merciful and always seeking our humility and repentance.
Our aim is to seek the
Holy Spirit, so I@t rather than our “I”, or ego is motivating our way of life.
References: The
Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Matthew, by Blessed
Theophylact, p 179
The Ten Point Program
for Living an Orthodox Life
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