This Rose apple tree in our garden is like a Christmas tree decorated with fruits making it an adorable tree in our garden. It is bringing its fruits in abundance in its season.
This is in contrast to a Fig tree that Jesus noticed after His triumphant entry into the temple at Jerusalem. The fig tree having had no fruit except leaves alone received disapproval from Jesus, leading to its withering instantly(Matthew.21:18-22).
I have often wondered at this rather harsh treatment the tree received for its failure to bear fruit. It was lone fig tree on the road side (v19). Jesus was hungry. A tree is to give fruits to the hungry. The tree did not give what it was expected of it.
This to me receives a new meaning, when we look at the teaching of Apostle Paul in I corinthians 4: 1-2, 'Let a man regard us in this manner as servants and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy'.
The fig tree could not be trusted. So it was removed from its role from being a tree. This tree might have provided shade for travellers or shelter for birds of the air. However they were incidental benefits to others for being a tree. The expectation from a tree is fruit bearing.
Another event mentioned in the Gospels following the narration of the entry of Jesus to the temple, is what Jesus noticed about a widow. She put two copper coins as an offering in the temple. While all others 'put in out of their surplus, she out of her poverty put in all she owned and all she had to live on'(Mark; 41-44).
Let me try if I can find a bridge between the tree which withered for failing to bear fruit and this widow who gave all she had to live on!
The tree was due to bear fruit but it failed. The widow would have been legitimately justified had she kept the two coins to live on as she had that alone as her possession. She lived dispossessed as a widow. Therefore even more deserving to look after her own interest.
The tree possessed all its branches reaching out to the open sky receiving abundance of sun light and nutrition from the soil. Yet it preserved itself to be a tree but not fruit bearing for the benefits of others.
The widow possessed very little but her attitude suggested an openness towards God, by giving to make her provision a means for the advantage of others. The widow transcended beyond herself.
This is the critical moment that we often come to in our lives. How much attention do we give to ourselves! How much we offer our lives for others!
In the story of the widow, what Jesus noticed was her generosity, so much so Jesus suggested that 'she put in more than all the contributors to the treasury' (v43).
I have struggled a lot with this dimension of being a servant and steward in my work place in the recent months. I have a feeling that the work place became a place for preserving our comfort rather than keeping others in the focus. Every time a family was told to wait to get an appointment for consultation, it was an attempt for the professionals to stay comfortable and not to stretch ourselves to attend to the needs of others. I realised in a conversation with an administrator, that the work place became a comfortable place for us and an inhospitable place for those who were 'hungry needing food to sustain themselves'. Now that we woke up to realise that we failed to be mindful of others adequately, people waiting for consultations and other services have moved away from us to go to places from where they can find their support. It is an ugly example of how the professionals buried themselves in self interest and lost out to be considered credible and effective.
As I think of this, I feel guilty and responsible. I could have taken note of this and corrected the slide earlier. I could have taken lead to welcome children without having to make them wait for appointments. I could have applied this approach to other professional as well.
A servant is available to serve with his or her focus on others. A steward is one who honours the trust reposed on him or her with an outgoing interest to make the work place a place of welcome and hospitality for others.
The good news of the Holy Week, is well enunciated in a parable of dinner Jesus spoke about how people in the 'highways and along the hedges' (Luke. 14: 16-24) were invited for a dinner as those who were formally invited refused turn up for the dinner. The message from the servant who was in charge of guests was that there was room for more at the dinner hall(v.22).
I gather this a s the good news of the Holy Week. All those who are heavy of heart too would find a place at the banquet. It was during the preparation for the Golgotha experience Jesus demonstrated to be even more all inclusive.
The mission of those who are followers of Jesus of Nazareth is to go to the 'highways and edges' where people who are marginalised live struggling and often neglected and bereft!
That is why I carry hope in my soul for finding mercy with God, at a time when I feel low and drained!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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