2 June, 2023 | Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Mk 11:11-26



Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.

He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,

went out to Bethany with the Twelve.


The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,

he went over to see if he could find anything on it.

When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;

it was not the time for figs.

And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

And his disciples heard it.


They came to Jerusalem,

and on entering the temple area

he began to drive out those selling and buying there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who were selling doves.

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:


My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

But you have made it a den of thieves.”


The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it

and were seeking a way to put him to death,

yet they feared him

because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.


Early in the morning, as they were walking along,

they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!

The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it shall be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,

believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

When you stand to pray,

forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,

so that your heavenly Father may in turn

forgive you your transgressions.”


Reflections

This incident had nothing to do with Jesus’ desire for food. It had everything to do with Jesus’ desire for fruit from his people. As we will see, the lack of figs symbolized Israel’s lack of faithfulness. Israel, like this fig tree, was guilty of a false profession of faith. 
 Jesus saw what was taking place in the temple of God and it had very little, if anything, to do with God. The house of God had become a house of hypocrisy. The temple was indeed beautiful (13:1) but when it came to its God-intended purpose, it was useless. Like the fig tree, it was nothing but leaves.
No longer would it be appropriate for them to continue with traditional cultic practices and sacrifices; adherence to God’s will would no longer be defined by adherence to strict behavioral rules. Instead, the most important things in the Christian community would be faith in God and forgiveness for others. 

Activity:

 
Examine your life and see if it is what God wants or what you want in order to please others who watch you



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