Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city. Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
REFLECTION
“Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
The image of a barren fig tree was used by the prophets to symbolize Israel's fruitless spirituality. Moral decay led to a fruitless spirituality as their hearts were far away from God. The fig tree was "clothed" in leaves but bore no fruit-just like the religious leaders who appeared righteous but bore no fruit of faith, repentance, charity, and love.
Reverence, piety, prayer and forgiveness are what we need for true worship and spiritual fullness from the heart. Faith, prayer and forgiveness are the pathways to God. Forgive those whom you have a grievance against when you pray, do not pretend to be holy or for appearances come across as religious.
Jesus is the physician and He has come to clean and heal us. Cast off that which draws us away from God; if you can't forgive, pray and pray to soften your heart, as unforgiveness blocks our prayers and ruins our relationship with God.
Love makes us sincere, kind, faithful, and can transform us. As Jesus forgave on the Cross, we surely can forgive those who have offended us.
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