onthly MeditationMeditation for December 2009
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Judith reads:
Meditation for December 2009
The seventh parable that is unique to the Gospel of St. Luke is the parable of Jesus titled The Barren Fig Tree Luke 13: 6 – 9. Jesus tells the parable of a man who planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it. But he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, “I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” The gardener answered, “Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine, if not, then you can cut it down.” (New Living Translation.)
The man who planted the fig tree was excited and expectant that he would get good fruit from that tree. He was so excited and so hopeful that he came again and again to see if there was any fruit but he was always disappointed. He was so disappointed that he lost patience with the tree and told his gardener to cut it down because it was just taking up space in the garden.
Perhaps this was the first time this man had ever planted anything in his garden and he didn’t know the amount of work it would take to get good results. Yes, he kept coming to look at it in hopes that he would get fruit from it, but he didn’t water it or fertilize it, prune it or ask advice from his gardener as to how to tend to it. Now, he was tired of it and just wanted it gone and so he told the gardener to cut it down—he didn’t even want to do that himself.
Now that the man had finally involved the gardener in the fig tree’s outcome, the gardener pleaded with him for the tree’s second chance. He was willing to work with the tree and give it special attention and then if there were still no results the man could chop it down. Notice, that the gardener didn’t say he would cut the tree down but that the man should take on the responsibility for the tree’s demise.
The man blamed the tree for not producing fruit but he really should have blamed himself for not asking the expert to give him the knowledge he needed in order for the tree to produce the fruit he wanted.
We have been placed here on earth by God and, like that fig tree, we are expected to grow and produce fruit—fruit of the Spirit. Christ is the Gardener and gives us the special attention we need in order to mature in the Spirit and produce good spiritual fruit. But even though the Gardener gives us what we need in order to grow in the Spirit, we still need to do our part by receiving the nourishment we are given, putting down our roots in good soil, reading the word of God and praying to Him.
Each Christmas we are given another reminder of God’s love for us, another opportunity to grow in the Spirit and produce fruit for God’s kingdom. Christ is the Gardener of second chances. Take this opportunity now, it is not too late to receive the gift of Christ into your life and work with him to become the person you are meant to be.
© Judith Lawrence—December 2009
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