BEING CULTIVATED

      Our gospel for this Sunday of Lent tells the story of the fig tree found in chapter 13 of Luke. [see Luke 13:1-9]

    Here we see a glimpse of the nature of God.  We hear: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it found none."

    We know that our God has called us by name, gifted us with an abundance of his grace, and made clear that he has expectations for us.  Those expectations involve more than simply "growing where you are planted".  There is the expectation that the grace given will bear fruit and provide praise and glory for the name of God.

    Like the man in the story today, there is sometimes a disappointment that even after the years of our existence we might not be bearing fruit,  Our Lenten journey allows us to examine our lives and their productivity.

    The man in the story says to the gardener: "For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none.  So cut it down.  Why should it exhaust the soil?"  But the gardener intervened and begged to let him spend the next year cultivating the ground around the tree and fertilize it.  Then if it still does not bear fruit it will be cut down.

    Our God is a God of expectations.  He does not simply gift us and then leave us on our own, giving us the leeway to grow or not to grow.  He expects growth, he expects progress in living out his gifts, he awaits the proof of our faithfulness and the fruit of our lives lived well.

    Jesus is the gardener in this parable.  He appeals to the Father to give us a second chance - and then he works with us to bring out the best within us.

    Our God is a God of expectations - expectations that are tempered by patience which flows from his love.  In our weakness there are moments when the fruit that we bear is not evident and in those moments he has the right to "cut us down".  However the nature of God will not allow him to do so easily ... rather he pledges to work with us, to cultivate us, to fertilize us [just think of the things that we sometimes have to deal with] and to bring out the best in us.

    Our God is a God of patient love, and while we may find ourselves condemned by refusing his gardening skills, we are also assured that if we are willing to allow him, he will do everything to bring his life to us.  Thank his for his patient love.