Day 6: March 1

Readings:

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple; and when He had looked around at all things, and already the eventide was come, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. And on the next day, when they were coming out from Bethany, He was hungry; and seeing a fig tree far off having leaves, He came, if perhaps He might find anything on it; and coming to it, He found nothing except leaves; for it was not the time of figs. And Jesus answering said to it, Let no one eat fruit of thee hereafter for an age. And His disciples heard. (Mark 11:11-14)

This fig tree there was meant the Jewish Church, in which there was no longer anything of natural good; and the religious teaching or truth that was preserved in it, are the “leaves;” for a vastated church is such that it knows truth, but is not willing to understand it. Similar are those who say that they know truth or the things of faith, yet have nothing of the good of charity: they are only fig leaves, and they wither away. (Arcana Coelestia 885:2)

Reflection:

The Lord many times in the Gospel speaks of bearing fruit as a symbol of doing good. Knowing the truth but not living by it is being a house built on sand, or a fig tree with leaves but no fruit.

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

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