Leaves, Flowers and Fruits

 

I continue to be fascinated by the colours in our garden. They are from leaves, flowers and fruits. 

One of the parables mentioned in the Luke's Gospel, before the narration of the Last supper in 22nd chapter is about a fig tree and all the trees (Luke.21:29-33).

What Jesus said about trees was that 'as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near'(v31).

Jesus spoke further about the coming of the Kingdom of  God at that time. 

To me, this brings a new dimension to the parable.  

The summer and the Kingdom of God. A summer is a dry period and is not a season to look forward to, as it is a hot and humid season at least in the tropics. So how can the summer and Kingdom can have a comparable reference. 

It is this which makes this parable worthy of attention. 

What followed leading to Gethsemane, Golgotha and the resurrection testify to the spectacular events even during a difficult season of summer. 

When I watched the plants with leaves and flowers in our garden, I realised that they flourish even in late spring and early Summer. The soil where they are rooted sustains them. 

This is worthy of attention. Summer brings incompatibility with normal life for plants. But the rootedness in the good soil grants trees and plants opportunity to live fully even in summer. 

The Holy Week is one season when we have an occasion to consider how rooted we are in God and godly ways for our lives!

The story of the Holy Week is full of details in the gospels about Jesus and His rhythm. One detail that I feel fascinated by, is what Luke described 'Now during the day Jesus was a teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that was called rivet. And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen top him'(v.37-38). 

Jesus was facing an emotional summer of difficult times in hIs life after his triumphant entry to the temple. 

Jesus faced the summer with a new design: ministering during the day in the temple and praying at night. 

The earnestness which which Jesus practiced this rhythm gives us an indication of the choice Jesus made at a difficult time. 

Jesus was present with people during the day and with God at night. Jesus served, preached and guided people from the strength He was given in prayer and during the waiting and discerning on such occasions. 

Prayer for Jesus on this occasion was for preparing Himself to 'lay down His life as a ransom for others'. He needed to move beyond the instinct to preserve Himself and take in God's mission for which He was sent. It was this mission that He fulfilled during the teachings He provided during the day in the temple. At night He received strength in prayer to live vicariously and prepare himself for Golgotha. 

This is what is most spectacular about the Holy Week. We remember how Jesus readied Himself to face the summer of suffering, looking unto God. Just as the tree was rooted in the soil and the leaves became a sign of life and living in the Holy Week. Jesus stayed rooted in God's mission through His time of prayer, which gave him strength to minister to people during the day. 

The season of summer has a significance beyond its usual meaning. Jesus warned: 'Be on guard that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap, for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face all the earth'(v34-35).

Having been through a summer experience of humiliation, suspicion and even accusation at my work place, I realised how I felt heavy of heart and depleted of energy to face the events that came upon me like a tornado. Although it is not yet over and its consequences would bar me down for a while, what surprises me is the larger meaning of such deprivation one can find if one can be patient and steadfast. 

One has to steadfastly refuse to entertain a victim attitude, but regard the summer of suffering with a view on the promise of the kingdom of God which is to unfold through such experiences. 

It is not for glorifying suffering, but for accepting suffering to be formative and instructive in its role in one's life. Jesus of Nazareth, 'Although He was Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered' (Hebrews.5:8). 

That is why I felt moved to look beyond the leaves of a tree in the parable, but to see the  outcome of suffering in the flowers and fruits. Every experience of endurance shall bear flowers and fruits in one's life. A new life grows out the summer season of suffering, because we are called to abide in God in order that we may bear fruit (John15.5). In fact the verse following this suggests, 'If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you'(v7). That is how we can endure the summer of suffering.

The rhythm of 'prayer and work', aura et labora is the calling Jesus of Nazareth practiced even during a most difficult season in His life!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)