Reflection
Scholars indicate that the term garden is used 43 times in the bible from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane, to the garden in which Jesus’ tomb was located, etc. Jesus was obviously intimately familiar with horticulture in its various forms, and uses this familiarity frequently in his parables and teachings.
In today’s gospel Jesus turns his attention to fruit trees. He tells his disciples that every tree is known by its fruit.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”
Plant specialists teach us that good fruit trees require regular monitoring to identify potential or early signs of plant disease. Early detection prevents minor tree health issues from spreading. Environmental factors are also crucial to healthy fruit trees.
Jesus is like the “Master Gardener.” He is the sower who realizes how important it is to sow the seeds of his teachings on fertile soil and to provide regular and prudent care of the trees he has planted in order for them to bear the fruits of his teachings. But Jesus also acknowledges that we are not as responsible for the part of the garden that we tend. Poor care of his trees may result from the stresses (occasions for sin) of the environments in which we live. Sin begets sin and can spread within us and among us just like the plant diseases that compromise the health of the orchard (Jesus’ Church).
Jesus knows well that his garden, the Church, will need abundant resources to prosper. He bestows abundant graces upon us through his teachings in the scriptures, by inviting us to build prayer lives and by nourishing the life of the Church through each of the sacraments. He invites each of us to contribute to the welfare of his Church-garden by carefully monitoring our spiritual health so that we do not succumb to the stresses of the harsh environments in which the Church often labors to produce good fruit.
So the question to ponder: Am I working to be a good tree that produces bountiful fruit in the garden of the Church; or am I leaving myself open to the harmful elements of my environment that can bring down a once promising tree in the garden of the Lord?
May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!
