Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down

 

 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

He also spoke this parable:  "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.  Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'  But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.  And if it bears fruit, well.  But if not, after that you can cut it down.' "

 

- Luke 13:1–9 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said to the disciples, "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!  Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth?  I tell you, not at all, but rather division.  For from now on five in one house will be divided:  three against two, and two against three.  Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."  Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is.  And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is.  Hypocrites!  You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how it is you do not discern this time?  Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?  When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.  I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite." 

 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."  My study bible informs us that these are two historical incidents, which are only reported in Luke.  The slain Galileans were most likely Zealots, Jewish nationalists, who triggered a disturbance against the Romans.  The collapse of the tower in Siloam, whether by accident or sabotage, was thought to be divine justice on sinners.  My study bible points out that Christ denies this suffering was God's judgment.  Instead, Jesus uses these events as illustrations for those who perish because they will not repent, building on His statements at the end of yesterday's reading in the same discourse (see above). 

He also spoke this parable:  "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.  Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'  But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.  And if it bears fruit, well.  But if not, after that you can cut it down.' "  This fruitless fig tree is universally understood in the Church to be fallen humanity.  The three years, my study bible says, represent God's covenants with God's people through Abraham, Moses, and Christ, each of whom are rejected, as well as the three-year earthly ministry of Christ.  The keeper of the vineyard is Christ Himself.  He intercedes on our behalf by suffering His Passion, and sending the Holy Spirit to us before the final judgment takes place.  

Jesus continues to build on His statement from Thursday's reading, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"  This is not to emphasize fear itself, but rather to emphasize the central importance of the first great commandment, as He has named it:  "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"  To place God centrally in life, as the focus around which one gathers one's life, is the whole point of Jesus' reiterated teachings in the readings from yesterday and today.  It really little matters what else we concern ourselves about, whether it is gathering up food for the future, or storing money, or clothing.  It doesn't matter if we are concerned about the evils we think we see about us and consider to be beneath us.  If we don't have the conscious awareness of God placed centrally within our own understanding of what guides our own conduct -- including sins large and small -- then we're equally in danger of losing our chance at living in this Kingdom and especially the eternal life that Christ offers.  In other words, whatever else it is we think about, we need to keep this one constant focus centrally in mind.  Everything depends upon our own communion with God.  We don't compare ourselves with the rest of the world to get the true picture of the focus we need to have, no matter what else is going on, and no matter what others are doing.  He goes through all these illustrations of worldly calamity, terror, human needs, and all the rest simply to emphasize this one strong point:  each of our lives needs to be focused around how we serve God, what we need to do for the strength and depth of our relationship with God, and how we constantly participate as disciples within that communion.  This is the one true central thing we always have to keep in mind above every other concern, and midst all others.  Jesus reminds every one of His disciples of the tremendously greater loss that comes from lack of concern and awareness of strengthening and deepening our relationship to God.  Judgment is mentioned in this context to reinforce the importance and value of the great gift of life offered to all who participate in the Kingdom, and to the tremendous loss of that gift that can result from a lack of priority or understanding of the importance of the spiritual life.  That is, we need to get right with God, no matter what we think we've already done, no matter what we see others doing.  This is because the gift we receive from this communion is so much greater than any other goals we can ponder.  In the final paragraph, He emphasizes one thing that He has reiterated again and again, the importance of bearing spiritual fruit.  Whether we are the servants in the household who remain alert and awake for our Master's return or we are those who are stewards and must administer with mercy over our fellow servants (see Saturday's reading), whether we are anxious and concerned with our worldly goods and needs (see Friday's reading), whether we're worried about the conflicts or upset with those around us via our choice for discipleship to Christ (yesterday's reading, above), our chief concern really needs to be with bearing the spiritual fruit that God looks for and that Christ stresses so strongly.  That fruit is the product of our own practices of mercy, generosity, or care that we practice as disciples, and the corrections for our own varieties of selfishness or sins that the communion with God makes us aware of.  There is so much to receive in this Kingdom which blesses us, including the grace of God which enables us to become much more than we think possible and to grow in our faith.  Jesus keeps emphasizing this one thing necessary, this desire to serve and please God by living the life of faithfulness, that nothing else is more important or essential.  We stand to lose so much when we lose sight of it.  Let us keep our focus where it must be.  Let us bear the fruit so carefully nurtured by Christ, and passionately tended with such a depth of sacrifice.