How can we identify the "fruit" in our own lives? What does it mean to bear good fruit as followers of Christ?
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the people regarding recent tragedies—the execution of Galileans by Pilate and the deaths of those crushed when the tower in Siloam collapsed. He emphasizes that these events are not necessarily a reflection of greater sinfulness among those who suffered. Instead, he urges everyone to repent and turn away from sin, warning that without repentance, they will face destruction.
Jesus then shares a parable about a fig tree in a vineyard that has not produced fruit for three years. The owner wants to cut it down because it is unproductive, but the gardener pleads for more time to care for it, hoping it will bear fruit in the future.
Are we bearing good fruit, or are we like a barren tree? Sometimes, we focus on what we have planted and what fruit it will bear, but we forget to examine ourselves as gardeners. Have we been good caretakers? Have we worked hard, persevered, and nurtured our plantings so they could produce beautiful and abundant fruit? We often become impatient for results, losing sight of God's plan for us.
As a seminarian, my vocation and prayer life are essential to my journey. Sometimes, I feel impatient because it seems like it is taking too long to become a priest. Does that mean I should give up on my vocation? No! God gives me a second chance to improve myself, to grow, and to become fruitful. We all have opportunities to bear fruit in our lives. We just need perseverance, effort, and trust in God. Then, everything we plant will produce good fruit.
Now that we are in the third week of Lent, the Lent of Christ's love, we are invited to reflect on our own life's desert and how we can bear good fruit during this season. We will experience emptiness and dryness as we face difficulties and challenges that test our ability to overcome them. But through these struggles, we can grow and bear fruit for ourselves and others.
This Sunday's Gospel highlights God's patience. Consider an area of your life where you feel unproductive or unfruitful. Instead of giving up, commit to nurturing that area with prayer, effort, and guidance. Give it the "fertilizer" it needs. The story of the fig tree shows God's patience and mercy. The tree was unfruitful and was going to be cut down, but the gardener asked for another chance to help it grow. This means God gives us time to change and become better people.
We are all like fig trees, reliant on God's care. He provides everything we need for growth and fruitfulness, but it is up to us to cooperate and bear fruit. This extra time is not a guarantee—it is a chance to show that we have changed. While God will ultimately judge us, He first gives us opportunities to improve.
We are challenged to transform our impatience into patience, allowing our spirituality and connection with God to deepen. We must accept the second chances He gives us to bear good fruit—love, kindness, and compassion. Just as Jesus came to save us, we are called to bear fruit and participate in His saving work.
