Northern Plains Anglican

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Jesus told this little story about a nation or at least a group within it. Me, I’m a good ‘murican and I individualize and personalize most everything.

The story resonates with both personal and communal realities. I think about myself and my perennial flaws; I think about the state of Christian churches; I look at the nation and culture… so much barren, fruitless stuff “using up the ground.”

The story’s hopeful twist is the patient vinedresser who pleads for more time with the fruitless tree. Jesus is telling those who will hear that he is here to renew what seems a waste of space.

My hope in blogging is to point to Jesus and maybe, just maybe get some of his care flowing to our fruitless, barren places.