The Final Fig Tree

Seeing ourselves as God’s favorite fig trees

10/27/2018

Luke 13:1-9 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.’”

I am not a huge fan of figs, but apparently the Bible is. Figs, fig trees and even fig leaves play a prominent role in the history of revelation in both the Old and New Testaments. Let me give you three quick examples of favorite figs in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3:7, after Adam and Eve commit the original sin, they feel shame because they realized they were naked. Do you remember the first designer clothes ever invented? That’s right: they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths to cover their nakedness and shame for sin. Secondly, the land of Israel is described in the Old Testament not only as “flowing with milk and honey,” but Deuteronomy 8:8 says the land abounds as well “with vines and fig trees.” That land would be prosperous and so would the people who resided there. And thirdly, a fig tree symbolized the nation, the whole people of Israel. In 1 Kings 4:25, each Israelite would live under his own fig tree. And you might remember that is how Jesus first described Nathaniel, and declared he was a true Israelite because he saw him seated under the fig tree. Whenever figs are featured in the Bible, it is no accident, but rather, they serve as a rich symbol of both sin and salvation, and God’s chosen people. The Bible is a big fan of figs!

In the gospels, Jesus also has a keen eye for figs, both fertile figs and fruitless figs, and add a new element to the already rich symbolism. Jesus tells a parable of a landowner who planted a fig tree but the tree was barren. The landowner wants to tear it down but the gardener – notice the gardener! – begs him to leave it one more year so he can cultivate it so it bears fruit. That may seem like a simple story, but if you are aware of the Biblical background of figs in the Old Testament, suddenly the parable becomes charged with spiritual meaning and a compelling message. Recall that figs represent the whole gambit of sin and salvation: simultaneously symbolizing three things: (1) covering the shame of sin, (2) the Promised Land, and (3) the People of God. The parable reveals, therefore, how God has dealt with his people – giving them one more chance, and how Jesus will deal with his people – also giving another chance. As a result, we can now add a fourth feature to these fabulous figs: God deals with our waywardness with forgiveness and mercy. Jesus is a big fan of figs, too!

My friends, may I suggest to you that the ultimate meaning of figs in the Bible lies in seeing yourself as the final fig tree? The stories and parables about figs are not solely for the people who lived in the time of the two Testaments, both Old and New, but intended every bit as much for you and for me. Let’s review the four facets of figs in the Bible and apply them to ourselves. First, the fig leaves covered the sin of Adam and Eve. We have all sinned and sometimes we cover our nakedness and shame with fig leaves of lame excuses and blaming others. Sometimes we use fig leaves so we don’t have to face our own faults and failures, our naked sins. Secondly, the fig tree represented the land of prosperity and plenty. We Americans can become so enamored of the bountiful country we live in – our modern version of the land of vines and fig trees – we forget the true Promised Land of heaven. We should feel like strangers and sojourns here on earth, even in America.

Thirdly, the fig tree points to the true people of Israel, the Chosen People of God, like Jesus said of Nathaniel: “he is a true Israelite.” St. Paul says in Galatians 6:16, that the early Christians were “the Israel of God.” In other words, Israel is not only a country in the Middle East, and not even the Old Testament Chosen People, but a name for the Church, the people on the path of salvation. I admit it can be hard to see the Church as the People of God when we observe the behavior of her clergy, priests and bishops. But so she is, Jesus’ Beloved Bride. And fourthly, the figs symbolize second chances. The gardener – remember how Jesus was mistaken for the Gardener after his resurrection – begs for mercy for the barren fig tree. Our Lord gives us yet another year to change our lives from sinful ways and begin to bear spiritual fruit.

After hearing this homily have you become a fan of figs yet? It’s okay if you are not, because both the Bible and God are huge fans of figs. Why? Because the real fig tree is you!

Praised be Jesus Christ!