The parable of the fruitless fig tree in today’s Gospel should unsettle us. It comes in the midst of Jesus giving a stern warning to his followers: “if you do not repent, you will all perish!” These are tough words, especially coming from Christ, who loves us so dearly. But his point is clear – sin has consequences, and we can never find life until we have experienced the true conversion of heart and mind that leads us to the Lord. We can see the suffering and death that results from sin all around us; it should be obvious that sin will never bring us peace. And yet Christ in this passage must plead with his followers to wake up, to have that conversion. We are all like the fruitless fig tree, which year after year refuses to bear fruit. Why shouldn’t the Lord simply cut us down?
And yet we have no reason to despair, for Christ is also our advocate. He is the gardener in the parable who begs on behalf of the fig tree: “leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.” Despite our hardness of heart, our refusal to turn from sin and live out our baptismal calling, Christ does not give up on us. He “cultivates” us and continually gives us new opportunities to bear fruit. He does not cut us down for our past sins, but instead invites us to a hope-filled future. Today, let us pray for the grace to accept that daily conversion of heart, so that we may bear fruit in our lives.