Be a "Soul 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?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.’”  (Luke 13:7-9)

This is an image that reflects our souls many times.  Often in life we can fall into a rut and our relationship with God and others struggles.  As a result, our lives bear little or no good fruit. 

Like the fig tree in in this passage, we all need a bit of cultivation and fertilization to be the best we can be.  The fig tree’s owner wanted to cut down the tree when it stopped bearing fruit.  How often do we rush to judgement as to the worthiness of others?  How quickly do we turn our backs on people (or plants in our garden?) that may need little more than our kindness, our nurturing, our support?

We all have those great role models of faith, hope, and charity who have taken the time to help grow us; to help us blossom and bear good fruit for the world.  This parable should call us to gratitude for having them in our lives and encourage us to return the favor.  In small ways, we can give a little more time to our children and grandchildren, to treat a stranger with kindness, to wink and smile at a child – even when those individuals may not seem open to the love.

Not one of the marginalized of this world is a greater sinner than any of the rest of us.  Not one of the oppressed deserve their fate.  Jesus calls us as sinners to repent, and as children of God to open our heart to the spirit and to love others.  As the beneficiary of both the love of God and the nurturing of other people, we should be happy to share that love, and when we do, to perhaps encourage the baby figs of joy and love in others.