My father was a very patient man. One year he took a peach stone and planted it in a small pot. The first year yielded nothing. The second year – a small stick that really looked dead. He then transplanted that “dead stick” into his garden. He fertilized it, watered it, cared for that “dead stick”. We asked him why spend the energy. Each time, my father said, “Give it another year.” Today, 10 years later, that “dead stick” gives us great peaches.
As my father was patient with that “dead stick”, how much more is God patient with us? Our Gospel today gives us the parable of the fig tree. In this parable, Jesus reveals the patience of God with us, despite our slowness to repent, despite our slowness of letting go of our narrowness of life. How merciful God is. This is God’s mercy – to take what is almost dead and coax it to new life!
Our Lenten journey, our work of repentance is to turn sinfulness toward God’s transforming mercy.
Jesus offers us a challenge – “bear fruit” or “be cut down”. Our encouragement – God is ever patient, God is ever merciful. God does not gives up on us.
What a challenge to continue to be patient. I find myself wanting immediate results with my projects. I will remember this story the next time I am ready to give up on a project or on changing my life.
We learn so much about life from those so close to us. We are the living legacy
Sister Therese,
You beautiful story reminded me of my own loving father who passed away over 32 years ago and all the wonderful examples he set for me.
I am very thankful that God is ever patient and merciful.
I have learned a great deal about God’s mercy from a dad who was not so”church oriented!” Now, the challenge is to offer that mercy to those who come into my life who might look like that dead stick!
Tree, great story, I can just see your father planting and taking care of that stick.
Thanks for the reminder to bare fruit rather than be cut down.