Last weekend we observed Jesus as he sat in the temple quietly taking in what was going on around him. We heard His remark about the contributions being made to the temple treasury. We saw what he saw. A widow, as unobtrusive as she could be, slipped (almost unnoticed) among the other donors to deposit her “two cents” that settled softly with the rich folks’ paper money. And if you’ve read Mark’s gospel continuously from that incident to today’s Gospel you also know Jesus’ prediction about the destruction of the Temple, his teaching about the cost of discipleship, the woes that will accompany the end times and Jesus’ instruction to his disciples about the need for watchfulness so that they will not be caught unprepared for the final judgment.
Jesus says: “Learn a lesson from the fig tree.” Jesus could have said citrus tree or olive tree. They grew nearby, too. But, he says “fig tree” and happily for us we have fig trees to observe. When the branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, we know that another season of fruit is near.
After Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree, He gives several brief parables. We know that Jesus’ words are not spoken to frighten his disciples, nor should they frighten us. The prophetic Word of God is as sure and secure as the rest of His message. It is offered to prepare us for the changes we will experience during our lifetime and at the end time. Our consolation and hope are found in the lasting nature of Jesus’ words and God’s never-ending love for us.
When you see the things happening that Jesus talks about, know that he is near, at the gates. “But,” says Jesus, “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Then He assures us: “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
So, how, as followers of the Jesus, do we prepare in the face of struggles not unlike our times as community and as a nation? How well do you read signs? Can you train yourself to be more observant of the signs? Do you naturally notice signs in nature? Road signs? How well do you read nonverbal body language? Do you work to sensitize yourself to recognize everyday signs? How do you heighten your sensitivity to spirit signs? Do you use Scripture, the Rule, the example of a favorite saint? What helps you to listen more keenly to your heart in the quiet of the night when sleep eludes you? Maybe your quiet time is walking, working or driving along a familiar road; passing through the hall at a leisurely pace; setting the table, readying yourself for communal prayer in the chapel – do you hear God’s whisper in your heart?
Cultivation of the inner spirit helps prepare us to see the direction of the cultural winds we face, whether agreeable or frightening. God does not usually shout to us in fury or in a tumultuous hurricane. Much of the time God speaks softly. So stay tuned. In the face of cultural garbage and shifting government structures or a changing church, we steady ourselves not to be tempted to hoard food and possessions. We guard against the temptation to build a hermitage and hide out. We pray to be strengthened to stay in the fray. Many things will just happen in our lives – things not scheduled by the calendar, or watch, or clock or a computer “ding”. With all the scheduled things we have to do, we are called by today’s Gospel to keep our hearts attuned to the significant things that just happen.
How can we do this day in and day out and year after year? Can we do it by heeding Jesus’ directive to the disciples who accompanied Him in the garden the night before his death: Stay here, watch and pray. Watch: ask for God’s Wisdom to let us see God’s perspective so we discover our moment within our cultural context. And, pray! Remember, “to pray” is not simply to read books about God, spirituality or prayer, or to think about those topics. To pray is simply – to pray! We don’t even have to start the conversation. Simply let God in. Let us strive to keep in mind that we are called not so much to do the Good News. We are called to be the Good News.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
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