The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard Him say it. Mark 11:12-14
”How grateful you should be to your own benefactor; how cheerful you should be at the honor he has conferred on you, that you do not have to make a nuisance of yourself at other people’s doors, but other people come and bother you at your own!
But at the moment you are grumpy and no one can get to you. You avoid meeting people in case you might be obliged be part with even a little of what you have. You can say only one thing: “I have nothing to give you. I am only a poor man.” Indeed you are poor and utterly destitute. Poor in love, poor in humanity, poor in faith in God, and destitute of any hope of eternal happiness.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in Homily De Caritate, 3, 6: PG 31, 266-267, 275.
It’s Passion Week Monday. Before cleaning out the temple Jesus curses the fig tree. It has not produced the fruit it was supposed to produce.
I thought this fit well with the last reading from this treatise from Basil. Are we gratefully producing fruit for our Benefactor Jesus, or are we grumpy and unfruitful?
Serving workers in hard places that face poverty, corruption, affliction, and war has caused me to give my life to stir people to snap out of complacency and choose rich generosity.
Today’s Scripture serves as a wake-up call for all of us. Will we be curses for our lack of fruitfulness and labeled utterly destitute.
Jesus does not care if we believe (remember even the demons believe and shudder), He cares whether or not we follow Him and do what He tells us to do because of what we believe.
That’s our fruit. Strategic meetings are going well in Ukraine. The model to help schools scale and grow sustainably has been well received by two key schools.
When we strengthen stewards with standards, we can see sustainable ministry in the hardest places. Don’t give them handouts that create dependency. Work with GTP to give them a hand up.
That’s the other thing Jesus did on Passion Week Monday is his classic “Last call!”
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” John 12:23-30
So what will you do? Will you fall into the ground and die to produce much fruit? That’s what Jesus did for you so that you and I might have life.
Will you sow the financial resources you have to reap an abundant harvest? That’s what Jesus did for you. He set aside the riches of heaven for you. He became poor so you might become rich.
Don’t be grumpy. Be grateful you get to give. And if you have not already contributed to our effort in Ukraine, please make a gift here. Still praying for another $2,000-$4,000 needed in real time.