Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 24, 2020
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
The fig tree that struggles to bear fruit is a reflection on patience for me. The gardener who asks for more time to cultivate the tree is Jesus, the divine gardener who cultivates all of us in our faith.
This story makes me ask myself: when have I been impatient with others? When have I been impatient with myself? Perhaps if I could have given someone else more time to grow, he or she would have been able to succeed and even flourish. Perhaps, if I had given myself more time learn and grow, I would not have missed opportunities to become a better and stronger person, especially in my faith.
In a results-oriented world, we can easily relate to the orchard owner’s inclination to cut down the fig tree. We are always looking at timelines, return on investment, and cash flows. In this mindset, anything that does not produce must be eliminated. Efficiency becomes the false god that we trust to make things better for everyone.
Luckily for us, God does not judge us by our efficiency or productivity. God asks us to love. When we are failing to grow in love, the divine gardener not only gives us more time, he also gives us help: “I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it.” It is important to note that even the patient gardener does expect the fig tree to bear fruit at some point. He says, “it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.” The fruit that Jesus expects us to bear is not the same as the success that the world teaches us. It is the harvest of love that grows from love.
Prayer
Our sinful actions, words and omissions make us like barren trees. They deserve harsh consequences. And yet, you, Jesus, offer us hope and healing, a hand of reconciliation and restored relationship. Your love for us must be incredibly great because you never tire of forgiving us.
Help us to appreciate that forgiveness, not taking it for granted, but not shying away from it either. Thank you for your patience with our weakness and your healing forgiveness of our sins. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Anthony Mary Claret led a colorful life as a popular preacher in Spain and Archbishop of Cuba, even surviving an assassination attempt and then pleading for the life of his attacker.
Anthony was born in Spain in 1807, the son of a weaver. He grew up practicing his father’s trade, and studied Latin and printing in his spare time. At the age of 22, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1835.
He had a desire to serve in the foreign missions, but his health failed and he was encouraged to focus his efforts on evangelizing the people of his native Spain. He began to preach parish missions and give retreats throughout his home region.
His zeal inspired other priests. He gathered a number together and established a new religious order, the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who are now known as Claretians. The order spread through Spain and beyond.
Soon after this success, he was appointed Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. It was difficult work reforming the Church in Cuba, which had fallen into disorder, and he encountered deep resistance. In fact, on several occasions, he was nearly assassinated.
In one case, a man seriously wounded Anthony because he blamed him for the loss of his mistress, who had converted her life and left him. Anthony interceded for the man in court, however, and saved him from a death sentence.
In 1857, Anthony returned to Spain to serve the queen. He refused to reside in the court, however, and spent as much time as he could preaching to ordinary people and spreading good reading literature throughout his home region. He is responsible for founding Barcelona’s Libreria Religiosa, now known as the Claret Library, which played a large role in preserving and enhancing Catholic culture in Spain.
Anthony preached 10,000 homilies and published more than 200 books or pamphlets to teach the faith. While in charge of an institution of higher education, he established science laboratories, a museum of natural history, as well as schools of music and languages.
Beyond his impressive intellect, Anthony gave his heart to God. As he grew in holiness, he was given the gifts of prophecy and healing, and his prayer often placed him in ecstasy and rapture.
At the end of his life, he was exiled with the queen to Rome. He did not cease his ministry, however, and he attended the first Vatican council and helped to define the teaching of papal infallibility. He died on this date in 1870.
St. Anthony Mary Claret is patron saint of those who work with textiles and in the Catholic press. His relics rest in the Basilica reliquary chapel.
St. Anthony Mary Claret, you supported the Catholic press and are the spiritual father of Cuba—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anthony Mary Claret is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 4, 2024.