Friday of Week 8: Reflection by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
Theme: WHY IS THERE NO FRUIT ON THIS FIG TREE?
(Mark 11:11–25)
The hungry Jesus walking with His disciples looked up to eat from the fig tree in leaf but sadly He found none. It was actually not season for figs. Yet He cursed it and it withered.
The fig was used to teach us an important lesson. The fig is seasonal in bearing fruit. The lesson from the fig is for men whose fruitfulness is not seasonal. God wonders what season men are waiting for to produce the required fruit of holistic goodness and not useless leaves of external beauty.
We keep maturing in physique, growing great businesses, being highly connected, rising politically, academically, religiously and otherwise. Still, we have nothing to show for these. Are we matured in faith? Is our prayer life strong? How deeply rooted is our morality? How responsible are we? How generous are we? How do we channel these external resources to achieve eternal glory? God wants us to be giant and productive in things that matter to Him and not in frivolities.
Nigeria for a long time has prided herself as the giant of Africa. Giant indeed. Grown tall in population, decorated with many ethnic groups, counted as multilingual and multicultural, blessed with mineral resources, ‘known’ to be practicing democracy. Has she not been like this tree seen by Jesus today as fruitless? Is Jesus not wondering why she is less productive with the intellectual giants in it, with the religious doctors and numerous professionals littered here and there in it. Why are Nigerians running out of the country? Why is there no fruit of security, peace, justice, fairness, etc on the tree of Nigeria.? Why is it that we lack the basic amenities to survive here? Why are we suffering and dying in abject poverty even in the midst of plenty? Why is Nigeria still living on borrowing when she can actually bear fruits to be exported after many years of being planted? Could it be that the soil is not good or it was defiled? Who are the bad eggs discouraging fruitfulness in this land?
This country must produce the required fruits now or… What awaits the fruitless tree is withering. Had the tree known what awaited it, the best thing to do would have been to bear fruit before the coming of Christ. God knows how to deal with every fruitless situation.
May God arrest and handle in His own way whatever power that is hindering us from bearing the fruit he wants from us as a people and as individuals. May you be productive in your family, pastorally, politically, economically and holistically.
LET US PRAY
Your will O Lord is that we live productively all the time. We pray against the forces making us to bear little or no fruit. Keep us ever conscious of Your expectations on us through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless your Friday (Ordinary Time, Week 8)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh