Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise

 

 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  

 

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes.  Have you never read, 

'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have perfected praise'?" 

 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. 

 

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?"  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

 

- Matthew 21:12-22 

 

 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."  All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:  "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.  They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.  And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!"  And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"  so the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

 

  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"   My study Bible explains that those who bought and sold were trading in live animals to be used for sacrifices.  The money changers would trade Roman coins for Jewish coins, because Roman coins bore the image of Caesar (who was worshiped as a god), and were considered to be defiling in the temple.  The cleansing of the temple, my study Bible also notes, points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits.  As each person is considered to be a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), so it's also a sign that our hearts and minds must be cleansed of earthly matters.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

 

 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes.  Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.  My study Bible quotes from a Vespers hymn of Palm Sunday:  "Keep the feast with the children, and holding branches in your hands, sing 'Hosanna.'"  It notes that many liturgical hymns of this day emphasize the perfect praise of the children, which unlike that of the adults, was innocent, fitting, unashamed, and from hearts of pure love.  It says, moreover, that we are called to glorify Christ in the same spirit (see Matthew 18:1-4).  In contrast, the adults' praise carried earthly expectations and agendas which -- when left unfulfilled -- led them to rebel against Jesus only five days later (Matthew 27:20-23).  Jesus quotes from the Septuagint version of Psalm 8:2.  

 

 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?"  The fig tree is a symbol of prosperity and peace, my study Bible says.  But it withers because it is fruitless.  This is a prophetic act done by Christ since after three years of His preaching, teaching, and healing, both the leaders and the crowds were destitute of spiritual fruit.  My study Bible adds that the cursing of this fig tree is a warning to those in every generation of what will befall anyone who fails to listen to Christ's message.

 

 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  My study Bible comments that, while it is not recorded that an apostle literally moved a mountain, patristic understanding is clear that they had this authority if the need had arisen (there are certain saints that made crevices appear in Mountains).  Moreover, not all things done by the apostles was written down.  But beyond this literal meaning, it's a promise which includes an illustration of the power of faith and prayer in all areas of life.  My study Bible quotes Theophylact:  "Whatever we ask, without hesitation and believing in God's power, we shall receive" when we ask for spiritually profitable things.  

 

In today's passage is the second place in which Christ will speak about faith that can move mountains.  See also Matthew 17:14-21, in which the disciples (with the exceptions of Sts. Peter, James, and John) fail to heal a young boy (they fail to exorcise a demon from him).  They ask Jesus why they could not cast it out.  Jesus tells them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."  St. Paul also refers to this passage when he writes on love:  "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  Both of these passages are interesting, because they tell us that Christ's teaching here is not done in a vacuum.  In other words, He's not simply saying that all we have to do is believe something strongly enough, and our prayers will be answered.  There are conditions in each of these passages that make it clear that all faith and discipleship comes in the context of a much bigger picture of life than a simple intellectual choice or the will to believe something.  Our faith must be lived, one way or another, or even our prayers will be ineffective, or fall short of our desires and expectations.  Jesus speaks to the disciples of necessary prayer and fasting; St. Paul speaks of necessary love in addition to our faith.   Let us note that when facing His death on the Cross, even Jesus prayed for the cup to be taken from Him, but He did so in a certain manner of which we must make note.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus fervently prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).  If we are to believe that Christ indicates in today's passage that all we are to do is pray with a certain will to belief, and even the impossible or fantastical will come to be, then we are not paying attention to the fullness of the faith as Christ has taught in His ministry.  For even Jesus must pray in a particular way, and with a particular mindset, saying, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  There is a fullness of faith that is not simply about convincing our selves of the truth of something; it is not simply about a nominal or intellectual decision to believe something.  The fullness of faith is a life lived with dependence upon God in the fullness of our interior lives, even so that we can say with Christ, "Not as I will, but as You will."  God's possibilities are endless.  If the Cross and the resulting defeat of death and sin do not tell us that, then I can't imagine what would. Certainly those who put Him to death thought it was the end of His ministry and those faithful to Him. There are many people who clearly believe that still.   Even Satan himself no doubt thought it would prove Christ's defeat, but it instead defeated Satan and we speak of the victory of the Cross.  If God's power is so utterly outside of all of our conceivable expectations, then it is far greater and grander than anything we can "use" for ourselves.  We can but seek to know God and seek God's will for us through all the practices of faith and discipleship, and this is where power in prayer is found.  In today's reading, Jesus once again speaks of children as those who are truly of the kingdom of heaven.  Like angels, the quotation from Psalm 8:2 indicates that it is children who truly know and speak perfect praise (or hymns) to God.  See Matthew 18:3, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Humility and true faith and prayer go hand in hand, if we are to accept what Jesus is teaching here.  Of Jesus' teaching regarding "little children" as the model for those who enter the kingdom of heaven, my study Bible describes these virtues as follows:  humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  Let us understand the children who have perfected hymns to God.  For they are the ones who understand Christ and see Him as He truly is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations

 

 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it. 

 

 So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city. 

 

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter remembering, said to Him,  "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."  so Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

- Mark 11:12–26

 

On Saturday we read that Jesus and the disciples came to Jericho while traveling on the road to Jerusalem.  As He went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer.  Rise, He is calling you."  And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.  So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."  And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. 

 

 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it.   My study Bible explains that "it was not the season for figs" means that this fig tree had sprouted an early full foliage, which would indicate a first crop; however it did not bear any fruit.  Jesus, having found not a single fig, condemns it.  This is a symbolic action.  My study Bible further notes that a fig tree is often a symbol of Israel (Hosea 9:10).  Figs being a rich and nourishing fruit, symbolize spiritual richness and productivity.  But her fruitfulness has ceased; this is found in the corruption and hypocrisy Jesus condemns in cleansing the temple (in the next verses) and in the rejection of Christ the Son after three years of preaching, teaching, and healing.  Thus the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another people, who are called to bear spiritual fruit (see Matthew 21:43; Galatians 5:22-23).  

 

  So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city.  Those who bought and sold traded in live animals to be used for sacrifices, while the money changers were trading Roman coins for Jewish coins.  This is because Roman coins, bearing the image of Caesar (worshiped as a god), were considered to be defiling in the temple.  The ones who sold doves were selling the smallest and therefore least expensive of animal sacrifices, most affordable to the poor.  We can speculate as to Jesus' intent and meaning, but clearly those who come in faith to worship and offer sacrifice have no choice in this system but to support those who are profiteering from these practices.  My study Bible adds that the cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits.   As each person is considered to be a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19), so this is also a sign that our hearts and minds must be cleansed of that which distracts from our orientation toward God.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11.  

 

 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter remembering, said to Him,  "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."   My study Bible comments that the cursing and withering of the fig tree is a prophetic act which signifies the judgment of Israel.  For the disciples, it's a lesson that the old covenant with Israel is becoming "obsolete" and will "vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13).  They will establish His Church, which will ultimately be filled with both Gentiles and Jews, and they need assurance that they are following Christ's will.  This fig tree will be an unforgettable image for them.  

 

 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."  My study Bible notes here that while it's not recorded that an apostle literally moved a mountain, according to Church Fathers they had this authority if the need had arisen (some saints are reported to have made crevices appear in mountains).  Moreover, not all things the apostles did was written down.  But beyond that literal meaning here, this promise is an illustration of the power of faith and prayer in all areas of life.  Most importantly, Jesus attaches here the discipline of forgiveness in prayer and notes how contingent the effectiveness of our prayer is on lived discipleship.  As in the final teaching appended to the Lord's Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:14-15), Jesus reminds us that realizing God's forgiveness also depends upon our own practice of forgiveness. 

 

It's perhaps easy to take Christ's words literally here at face value, regarding prayer and faith.  But if we do that simply and easily, then we do not see that these words are couched within the need for discipleship.  They are spoken to His immediately disciples, who have learned from Him for three years, and who will go on at great risk for themselves to be apostles to the world.  These are men who will not seek to please themselves, but to please God, and to spread the word of the Church.  It's in that context that He teaches about faith and prayer.  Moreover, the teaching on the requirement of the practice of forgiveness in order to realize our own forgiveness, conveys a subtle understanding in it regarding our own relinquishing of our passions to the will of God.  In the Greek, the word for forgive means to let go, to relinquish, to give up.  We let go of the things we hold against others and give them to God, seeking God's will for such a situation and for our relationships with others.  In giving us the Lord's Prayer, Jesus refers to sins first as debts ("Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" reads Matthew 6:12), and then as trespasses.  But in both cases, forgiveness or "giving up" these unpaid debts or unanswered trespasses to God is a requirement for our own forgiveness.  It reminds us -- as in both the withering of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple -- that Christ is the judge.  So, we come to the words about prayer He teaches here, and the discipleship that goes into prayer for what is spiritually profitable.  St. Paul reminds us, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).  So, in this context of forgiveness and of discipleship, prayer becomes a matter of not simply making a list for God of the things we want, but of finding what God wants from us and for us, and giving all things to God for that clarity.  The cleansing of the temple teaches us there are things which get in the way of right relationship to God, sometimes even when they seem nominally "good."  The withering of the fig tree shows us our dire need for letting go of whatever prevents our spiritual fruitfulness.  Let us find the freedom in Christ for our fruitful prayer.  The prophet Habakkuk writes, "For though the fig tree will not bear fruit, and there be no grapes on the vines; the labor of the olive tree fail, and the fields yield no food; though the sheep have no pasture and there be no oxen in the cribs; yet I will glory in the Lord" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).  Let us seek Him and His kingdom first before all things.

 

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

 

 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  

 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood,  they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

 

- Matthew 24:32–44 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been teaching His disciples about the "end times" and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple to come (beginning in Saturday's reading).  Yesterday, He continued to prophesy about the times to come: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the  powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

 

  "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  My study Bible explain that this generation refers to all believers at all times; that is, the generation of the Church, and not simply to those alive at the time of Christ.  

 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom's commentary, that Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but even seeking to ask about it.  According to Mark 13:32, my study Bible continues, and in the St. Matthew text of St. Chrysostom, Jesus declares that even the Son does not know the day of His own return.  St. John Chrysostom says that this should not be understood literally.  Instead, it's a figure of speech to indicate that Christ, although He has revealed all the signs which will accompany His return, will not reveal the precise day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.  

 

"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood,  they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left."  My study Bible points out that the second coming of Christ will bring a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to heaven, it says, and the other left for eternal condemnation.  This separation of the saints from the wicked will happen at the coming of the Son of Man, and not (as some teach today) at a certain time before His second coming.  

 

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming  at an hour you do not expect."  My study Bible comments that Christ's purpose in giving this discourse isn't to make people experts on end-time prophesy.  Rather, it's so they may watch and be ready, continuing in virtue and obeying Christ's commandments.  This warning is illustrated in the parable Jesus tells here of the returning master of the house.  

 

 It's interesting that Jesus tells this short parable of the master of the house and what his behavior would have been had he known what hour the thief would come.  In it He likens His second coming to a thief breaking into the house.  St. Paul picks up on this image and restates it in his Letter to the Thessalonians:  "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).  St. Peter does the same:  "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).  In the Revelation we find the same imagery:  "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you" (Revelation 3:3); "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15).  Why would this blessed, extraordinary event of Christ's return in all of His glory be so described for us in this negative term of a thief in the night?  It is clearly meant as a warning, to stir us to remember at all times what we are to be about.  It doubly enforces the notion that the purpose of these revelations and prophesy of things to come is not so we make timetables and seek to calculate when this will happen.  This "thief in the night" image is meant to teach us the surprising nature of Christ's return, and how human beings become complacent with daily life and the cares of this world, rather than focusing on being prepared at all times should this event take place.  Elsewhere Jesus emphasizes the surprising nature of His return:  "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).  Once again, the whole point of this language is so that we understand that while we live in this world our job is to be prepared for His return, watchful and focusing on the things that we need to do to follow His commands, practicing the virtue He teaches, enduring in our faith.  We aren't told that there is more to do than this; it is enough that we always keep Christ's return in our hearts and minds and live accordingly.  For this is the work of faith (see John 6:27-29).  We remain watchful for the opportunities God places before us, the ways we need to serve, to practice our faith, to endure in the participation in His life by the grace He's given us, to strengthen our faith and grow in its grace for us.  There are all kinds of ways for us to be distracted, and perhaps that is true now more than ever for all kinds of reasons.  And yet, we're warned to keep watch over ourselves, and to continue in readiness for His return.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let no fruit grow on you ever again

 

 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes.  Have you never read, 

'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have perfected praise'?"

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. 

 

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?"  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

 

- Matthew 21:12-22 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."  All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.   They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.  And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:  "Hosanna to the Son of David!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'  Hosanna in the highest!"  And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"   So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

 

  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  Those who bought and sold in the temple were trading in live animals which were to be used for sacrifices.  The money changers were trading Roman coins for Jewish coins, as roman coins bore the image of Caesar, and were considered to be defiling in the temple.  My study Bible comments that the cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits.  As every person is considered to be a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), so it is also a sign that our hearts and minds should be cleansed of earthly matters.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11.

 

But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes.  Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.  My study Bible quotes from the Vespers service of Palm Sunday:  "Keep the feast with the children, and holding branches in your hands, sing 'Hosanna.'"  It notes that many liturgical hymns of this day emphasize the perfect praise of the children, which differentiated from the adults in that it was innocent, fitting, unashamed, and from hearts of pure love.  So we also are called to glorify Christ in the same spirit (see Matthew 18:1-4).  In contrast, it says, the adults' praise carried earthly expectations and agendas which, when left unfulfilled, led them to rebel against Jesus only five days later (Matthew 27:20-23).  Jesus quotes from Psalm 8:2.

 

 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?"  The fig tree, as my study Bible explains, is a symbol of prosperity and peace, and it withers because it is fruitless.  This is a prophetic act by Jesus which is directed toward the nation, as after three years of His preaching, teaching, and healing, both the leaders and the crowds were destitute of spiritual fruit.  He curses the tree also to warn those in every generation what will befall anyone who fails to listen to His message. 

 

 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  While there is no recorded incident of an apostle literally moving a mountain, my study Bible says, in patristic commentary it's clear that they had this authority if the need had arisen (certain saints did make crevices appear in mountains).  Moreover, not all things done by the apostles were written down.  Beyond the literal meaning here, this promise illustrates the power of faith and prayer in all areas of life.  According to Theophylact, "Whatever we ask, without hesitation and believing in God's power, we shall receive" when we ask for things which are spiritually profitable.  

 

 

The story of Jesus' withering of the fig tree is what we might term "a hard saying."   Why would we term it that?  Because what it indicates is judgment, and the kind of judgment that we don't really want to hear.  It's about Christ's pronouncement of judgment on those who are "unfruitful."  That is, upon those who have benefited nothing from His ministry, who cannot receive it nor honor it, who refuse the salvation that He offers.  What it teaches us is something hard that, normally speaking, we don't want to accept.  That it is possible for people to lose this priceless gift through rejection, because they don't want to receive it.  When Jesus forgives from the Cross, saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34), we may understand this in a number of ways.  There is first of all a sense in which people really do not know what they reject when they reject Christ.  That is, the life of salvation that He offers, and the eternal life of the Kingdom.  This certainly would have applied to the Roman soldiers who followed their orders to crucify Him.  It can apply to all kinds of people in all of these stories in the Gospels of Christ's ministry.  The religious leaders and others know that Christ is a holy Man, and yet they reject Him; they know the works of the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament Scriptures.  But still, there may be ways in which they "do not know what they do," and yet are in some sense and through their own hard-heartedness, beyond repentance.  But we are assured in our faith that there is no sin which cannot be forgiven through repentance.  The question remains, however, what of those who reject and never repent?  This is, fortunately, not up to us, but up to only Christ who is the ultimate Judge, and the ultimate knower of hearts (Acts 1:24; 15:8).  In St. John's Gospel, Jesus tells the religious leaders, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.  And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me" (John 8:15-16).  So we must ask ourselves again about this withering of the fig tree, a symbol of condemnation of that which is fruitless, which does not bear the spiritual fruit of its promise and potential -- even that for which it was created.  It certainly tells us something powerful about life itself, that there is life in Christ, and without His light we have the darkness that is death, that does not bring life into this world.  Is our life meant to be only about eating and drinking, or survival on its barest level, or the goods we can consume?  Life in Christ's light is so much more than this, and teaches us that we are so much more than this.  We diminish ourselves and our communities by refusing Christ and His love and light guiding us in His compassion.  Jesus will lament over Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'"  (Matthew 23:37-39).  Let us consider the reality of this rejection, and what it means for people's lives, for we can see the barrenness of life without God's love and hope and compassion.  There are no systems or philosophies that can replace the intrinsic understanding of the priceless value of the soul placed upon it by God, by the One who died so that we can live.  Let us give careful thought to the reality of this teaching in the withering of the fig tree.  

 

 

 

 

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

 

 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pas away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  

 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"

 

- Mark 13:28–37 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem.  The setting is the final week of Christ's earthly life, which is called Holy Week.  Jesus has been teaching the disciples about end times.  Yesterday we read that He taught them, "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter.  For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.  And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven." 

 

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pas away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  My study Bible comments that this generation refers to all believers at all times (in other words, the generation of the Church), and not simply those alive at the time of Christ.  Christ's prophecy is that the Church will continue to thrive until His return, regardless of how desperate things may sometimes appear. 

  

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"  My study Bible notes that although the Son does not know the day of His own return, St. John Chrysostom teaches that this is not to be understood literally, but as a figure of speech.  The meaning is that Christ won't reveal the exact day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.  

 

 What does it mean that there will be an end to the period of time in which we exist?  According to the Scriptures and our faith, this age began with the mission of Christ into the world as the incarnate Jesus, and so the whole of the era since then is considered "end times."  But Jesus clearly indicates there is a finishing point to this age, a moment in which all that was meant to be fulfilled in His mission is fulfilled, and then He will return.  At His Second Coming, unlike His first, He will come spectacularly, with great power and glory.  This time will be accompanied by signs preceding it, such as that the powers in the heavens are shaken, the moon and sun appearing dim or darkened, the stars falling.  This fulfillment of the age means that regardless of what we see and think we know of the world, it is in an ever-moving transition of some sort.  There are potentials being fulfilled, working themselves out somehow.  The notion of fulfillment in Greek is the real gist of what it means to "end" -- things end at their fullest point, when all possibilities and purposes have been exhausted and there is no more left to do.  Thus, at Christ's return, judgment occurs, and a new period begins (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1).  In the Christian era, through the coming of the Church, the mission of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, such things as the "new creation" are partially fulfilled, for this is the process begun for us.  But its fullness is in the new.  Why is all of this important, and why should Jesus forewarn us about these things which are to come at the end of the age?  It's not so that we make timetables, for there would be little sense in that in and of itself.  But Jesus' byword for us throughout these prophecies He gives of end times is to teach us to endure in our faith, to be watchful and aware of the purpose for which He came into the world and the ongoing mission He has left us with and our role in it.  Christ's final word here is, "And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"  We are to be prepared for that end, by living out our faith, being persistent in it, and enduring to the end through all the things He prophesies for us.  Clearly, His intention here is deliberate.  He wants us to be aware of all of these things, and the process that will unfold, especially at the time He will return, so that we are aware and prepared, and ready for this struggle for faith that is so all-important.  Let us consider the depth and power of His words, for they convey to us the purpose for our age, and frame our lives in that struggle for the faith He gives us, the life in which we also participate in the preparation for that new age He will bring, and in the fulfillment of these end times.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away

 

 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it. 

 

So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city. 

 

 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

- Mark 11:12-26 

 

On Saturday we read that when Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.  Loose it and bring it.  And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."  So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded.  So they let him go.  Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.  And many spread their clothes on the road, and the others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"  And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.  So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. 

 

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it.   It was not the season for figs, my study Bible explains, means that this fig tree had sprouted an early fall foliage, which indicated a first crop, but without bearing any fruit.  So Jesus, finding not even one fig, condemns it.  In Scripture, my study Bible says, a fig tree is often a symbol of Israel (Hosea 9:10).  Her fruitfulness has ceased, so the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another people, who are called to bear spiritual fruit (see Matthew 21:43; Galatians 5:22-23).  After three years of ministry, Christ has arrived in Jerusalem, where He will find refusal and rejection, rather than spiritual fruitfulness.

 

 So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city.  Those who bought and sold in the temple were trading in life animals to be used for sacrifices.  The money changers would trade Roman coins for Jewish coins; this is because Roman coins bore the image of Caesar, who was worshiped as a god, and they were considered defiling in the temple.  The cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits.  As each person is considered a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), it is also a sign that our hearts and minds must be cleansed of earthly matters.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 to make His point clear regarding the use of the temple.  

 

  Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."   The cursing and withering of the fig tree is a prophetic act which signifies the judgment of Israel.  The disciples need to learn that the old covenant with Israel is becoming "obsolete" and will "vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13).  My study Bible explains that they will establish His Church, ultimately to be filled with Gentiles and Jews, and need assurance that they are following Christ's will.  The fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds. 

 

 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."  To have faith in God is to believe and follow.  From this faith in God, then, it follows that what one asks in prayer means necessarily prayer according to the will of God, not simply our own whims or aspirations alone.  My study Bible comments that while it is not recorded that an apostle literally moved mountain, patristic commentary is clear that they had this authority if the need had arisen (certain saints did make crevices appear in mountains).  Additionally, it explains, not everything the apostles accomplished was written down.  Beyond the literal meaning, my study Bible adds, this promise is also an illustration of the power of faith and prayer in all areas of life.  Theophylact comments that "whatever we ask, without hesitation and believing in God's power, we shall receive" when we ask for spiritually profitable things.  This passage is inseparable from Christ's words that follow regarding forgiveness.  

 

 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."   Here Jesus insists upon mutual forgiveness between people as a precondition of God's forgiveness.  Those who do not forgive are not forgiven -- period, my study Bible claims.  This teaching is repeated in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), which concludes with this same teaching.  To not forgive others is to willfully flee from the forgiveness of God for ourselves.  

 

In today's reading, St. Peter draws attention to the fig tree, now dried up from its roots.  He says, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."   All the disciples know very well this sequence of events, the curse by Jesus for fruitlessness (noted as metaphor to people), and then witnessing its complete desiccation (dried up from the roots).  Jesus' response is interesting, as He does not speak of the tree per se, but rather He speaks about faith.  He says, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."  There are those who seemingly read these words as if Jesus is saying that no matter what we think we want or need, if we just pray for them without any doubt that Jesus will make them happen for us, then they will.  But this is not what Jesus is teaching here.  Prayer is not a magical incantation; it's not bargaining or bribing or manipulating God; it's not a formula for manifestation.  First of all, in the prayer that Jesus gave us Himself (the Lord's Prayer), He has taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven . . . Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:2).  Moreover, we recall from Christ's own life and practice His memorable prayer to the Father on the night before His Crucifixion.   Christ's first prayer, as reported by St. Matthew was as follows:  "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  Christ's natural human response to death is to seek to let this cup pass from Him.  But His prayer ends with "not as I will, but as You will."  His next prayer is as follows:  "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."  This further enforces that Jesus prays above all not for His own (human) will to be done, but for the divine will He shares with the Father, "Your will be done" -- even if it means this cup of Crucifixion He wishes to avoid cannot pass away by any other means except that He drinks it, accepts it.  So Jesus is not saying that all we have to do is believe that God will do what we ask God to do; He is teaching us about the power of faith in God, and the reality that brings to us in seeking God's will.  This is the way to effective prayer.  That is, as my study Bible puts it, when we ask for spiritually profitable things.  What He says next emphasizes this, for He speaks about forgiveness: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."   To forgive is to give up, to let go (this is the literal meaning of the word in Greek translated as forgive).   It is precisely as it is when a debt is forgiven; it is let go off the books.  When we thus "forgive" in this sense, when we let go and give it up, we are turning it over to God for God's will.  It's the same sense in which we are reminded by St. Paul that "'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19; quoting Deuteronomy 32:35).  To forgive in this sense, and particularly in the sense of giving up seeking vengeance, is to seek God's will instead of our own.  We let things go, and ask for God's way.  In this sense also, we are reminded that it is our work to seek God's will in all things, and to pursue that as best we can.  In this sense, our practices help us to discern God's will, to give ourselves to that will, to ask for the things we're led toward by that faith in God which Jesus says is of utmost importance.  And in this way, our prayers become effective and powerful.  We seek to align our will with God's will, to learn how to do that as best we can, and not the other way around.  Christ Himself gives us the ultimate example in seeking God's way.  It is this in which we are to place our faith and do not doubt.  Let us try as best we can to follow His word and teachings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 

 

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

- Luke 21:29-36 

 

On Saturday, Jesus continued His discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem (and the temple) and the end times to His disciples:   "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear  and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

  Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   We perhaps can take a double meaning to the phrase this generation.  The events of the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem would come within one generation of the time that Jesus was speaking these words. But, perhaps more significantly, Jesus is giving a warning to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church (as my study Bible puts it), and not only to those alive at the time of Christ.

 

 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   Jesus' emphasis, in all the warnings we have reported in the Gospels, is on the unknown time of His return, which will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.   His emphasis is repeatedly upon our own watchfulness, our understanding of the things we are to be about as His followers, and an awareness of the judgment to come at His return.

 

Jesus says, in His final words of warning in St. Luke's Gospel, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."  We might think there's an exaggeration here, that such behaviors as He warns about would not apply to His disciples (carousing, drunkenness).  But note that He is speaking not of some terribly flagrant sins or extreme behavior.  Jesus is warning us of things that weigh down our hearts.  We need to consider carefully His words here, for He's not just speaking of violations of some code against sinning.  He's speaking of things we do in our lives that might seem good, or divert us to some kind of pleasure, or even the necessary things of this world with which we must concern ourselves.  He's talking about being burdened with things that are, in fact, not necessary to ourselves and should not be the focus of our lives, should not divert us from the life in the Kingdom we are meant to live and to pursue as the center of our lives.  The things that weigh us down are unnecessary burdens, even things we might think we need, but we don't.  It's important to note that He places the cares of this life in the same category of weighing down our hearts with carousing and drunkenness.  Are we over-consumed with worry about what we look like, what we'll wear, what house we have?  Do we think all the time about our work lives, or even what college our kids will get into?  While all of these things may be necessary, they are not all good to focus on with the kind of all-consuming intensity they can take on.  This is because, like carousing and drunkenness, they become diversions from the things which are really and truly important in Jesus' perspective, that involve the care of our soul.  For what is salvation?  Is it getting the best house, or keeping our reputation in the society?  Is it making sure we put on a good show, or obsessing over having "perfect" lives according to someone's image or theory they've put before us? (See Luke 12:22-34.)   The primary importance of the time of our lives, in Christ's view, is the life of the Kingdom that He has for us.  That is, living prayerfully, and always aware of where we are at, what we are dealing with, what choices we're making, and mindful of His return and living so as to be prepared for that.  Do we love those whom we need to love?  How are we judging ourselves and others?  Are we spreading false values we don't really believe in?  Most of all, are we caring for our hearts?  How do we relieve ourselves of the burdens that weigh us down, and find Christ's help to do so?  Are we aware of the spiritual life that permeates our world and our part in participating in that?  These are things that are weightier and far more important matters to concern ourselves with according to Christ and His teachings.  Do we remember who we are?  Do we remember God?  Do we cherish the gifts we're given by God?  What do we do with them?  All of these things matter to Christ, and not the things that would distract us from living the fullness of that life, our awareness of His Kingdom that lives in and through us, and the care and love of neighbor as ourselves.  Let us be consumed with love for Him and for the life He offers and invites us to live instead.  For this is truly the "work" He has for us to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses

 

 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it. 

So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests hears it and sought how they night destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city.  

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, an you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

- Mark 11:12–26 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.  Loose it and bring it.  And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."  So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded.  So they let them go.  Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.  And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:  "Hosanna!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!  And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.  So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

 

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it.  My study Bible explains that it was not the season for figs means that this fig tree had sprouted an early fall foliage, which would be a sign of a first crop, but without bearing any fruit.  Jesus, therefore, find not even one fig, and so he condemns the tree.   A fig tree, in Scripture, my study Bible explains, is often a symbol of Israel (Hosea 9:10).  Her fruitfulness has ceased, so the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another people, who are called to bear spiritual fruit (see Matthew 21:43; Galatians 5:22-23).  

 

 So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  And the scribes and chief priests hears it and sought how they night destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city.   My study Bible explains that those who bought and sold were trading in live animals to be used for sacrifices.  The money changers would trade Roman coins for Jewish coins, since Roman coins bore the image of Caesar and were therefore considered defiling in the temple.  (Caesar, we should remember, was worshiped as a god.)  The cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits, my study Bible tells us.  Remember that each person is considered to be a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), and so our hearts and minds must be cleansed of earthly matters.  As He does elsewhere, Jesus puts together two quotations from Scripture to make His point (Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11).

 

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, an you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."  My study Bible says that the cursing and withering of the fig tree is a prophetic act which signifies the judgment of Israel  It explains that the disciples need to learn that the old covenant with Israel is becoming "obsolete" and will "vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13).  They will establish His Church, which is ultimately to be filled with Gentiles and Jews, and and they need assurance that they are following Christ's will.  This fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds.  This withering of the fig tree is also a sign to people in every generation regarding what will befall anyone who fails to listen to His message.

 

 Jesus speaks about effective prayer in today's reading.  He makes the following promise to the disciples:  "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, an you will have them."   We must note, of course, that this promise of effective prayer comes with a clause, a sort of premise that must be fulfilled if we are to be effective and the promise of powerful prayer fulfilled.  He teaches us, "Therefore I say to you, whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."   We must therefore ask, why this condition?  Why does Jesus submit this requirement for effective prayer?  What does forgiveness have to do with it?  What does it have to do with faith in what we pray for?  These are important questions, for Jesus lays down a law with this saying, and it is a solemn statement we must all pay attention to.  One thing that happens when we forgive is not so much about what we do.  One would think -- in our very common modern assumptions about forgiveness -- that forgiveness means that we no longer think about the wrong someone has done us.  "Forgive and forget," the saying goes.  But in Matthew 18, Jesus gives a prescription for forgiveness and reconciliation and correction in the Church, and this includes the very important step of repentance on the part of the person who has trespassed against another.   In that context, Jesus teaches about naming the sin or trespass, witnesses, and also reconciliation.  He teaches, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."  So this concept of reconciliation, which is not just a simple matter of overlooking a sin or pretending it didn't happen, is worth an infinite number of times to forgive ("seventy times seven"), but there is a process to it.  It's similar to our reconciliation to God, and the requirement of repentance in being so reconciled.  We don't expect to carry on sinning, and place the responsibility for the sin on God or others; we do our part for forgiveness.  In this context, we should think, then, about what Jesus means when He teaches that "whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."    It is within this sense of reconciliation that we are bound to one another.  Our forgiveness in this case, to which Christ refers, is our reconciliation to God.  When we forgive, we "give up," as the word literally means in Greek.  And so, whatever way we feel someone has trespassed against us is given to God for God's judgment, and not ours.  In this way, we are reconciled to God, we "give up" our control, and accept that we need to follow the Lord's way -- regardless of what has happened and what anyone else has done.  Note that this does not mean we pretend an unrepented trespass never happened, full reconciliation is only possible through acknowledgement.  But nonetheless, we are free to give things up to the Lord regardless of what someone else does.  Why does this make for effective prayer?  Because this is the foundation of covenant, and there is no covenant without the acceptance that God is the judge of all things.  We are always free to reconcile to our Lord, even if another person does not accept repentance for a bad act -- and thus, we are free in this covenant.  We are not bound to the trespass; we are bound instead to God.  Neither does Christ say, in Matthew 18, that we are required to accept continuing abusive behavior.  Let us think about what covenant means, for covenant and forgiveness are the foundations of effective prayer.  We place our trust in God, letting nothing stand in the way, and that is the faith that moves mountains. The fig tree stands as a symbol of violated and failed covenant; let us take notice.