The Fig Tree

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 -- Week of 6 Epiphany, Year One
Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, and Martyr, 1977

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 948)
Psalms 97, 99, 100 (morning) 94, [95] (evening)
Isaiah 63:7-14
1 Timothy 1:18 - 2:8
Mark 11:12-26

Interpretations vary about the meaning of the story of Jesus' cursing of the fig tree. I can recall some bewilderment as a child that Jesus would do something like this. Why would he harm an innocent fig tree, after all, it wasn't the season for figs, so why would Jesus curse it when it had none?

Since that time I've learned that these kinds of stories are almost always metaphorical stories. The fig tree stands for something else. There are at least three possibilities: Israel, Jerusalem, and/or the Temple. There is another parable about a tree that fails to bear fruit. When the owner tells the farmer to cut it down, the farmer begs for one more year, so he can dig a trench, fertilize and water the tree. That is a parable of warning. This is an image that says that the time for escape has passed. Catastrophe is inevitable. The tree is cursed. It will wither from the roots.

The story of the fig tree frames Jesus' re-entry into Jerusalem and its Temple. It is a momentous visit. Jesus finds the money changers and those who sell doves for sacrifice. Jesus overturns the tables and stops the Temple commerce. He will not allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. He echos the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it a den of robbers."

Several things are happening. First, Jesus stops some commerce that victimizes the poor. The money changers, not unlike today's payday lenders, take advantage of the poor who have no access to approved Jewish coinage. They must change their unclean Roman coins for Temple money which does not carry any image of the Emperor. The money changers charge for the exchange, and the Temple aristocracy has a monopoly on the production of the acceptable coinage. Like so many financial systems, it is structured to favor the wealthy and powerful and to take advantage of the needs of the poor.

Second, Jesus overturns the seats of those selling doves and allows no one to carry anything through the Temple. Once again he is challenging the Temple monopoly, this time he challenges the monopoly over forgiveness, redemption of sins, and restoration of a pure relationship with God. Leaders taught that it was necessary to sacrifice at the Temple in order to receive God's favor for certain things. Again the poor are victimized. They must use their meager resources to bring a domestic animal to offer for sacrifice, often to have it rejected because it was judged blemished or imperfect. The Temple conducted sales of inspected, pure animals that could be purchased for sacrifice.

Among Jesus' most radical teachings was that God's forgiveness is free and inexaustable. Jesus said that God loved to forgive God's people and stands ready to do so at the moment our hearts turn toward God. No sacrifice is necessary. By making forgiveness and restoration freely available, Jesus challenges the Temple monopoly on sacrifice. By blocking anyone from carrying anything through the Temple he invites people to pray empty handed, and be accepted.

This is an act that will provoke sharp reaction. He has attacked powerful and wealthy interests, and he has challenged major sources of their power and wealth. He has attacked an entire system. It is the domination system of the Temple, the city and the state. The whole thing is corrupt and unjust, especially toward the poor. Its roots are cursed.

They will respond. This is the kind of act that can get you killed.

But, just about the time that Mark's gospel is written, Rome responded to a Jewish uprising, destroying the Temple and much of Jerusalem. This story serves Mark's readers as an explanation for the catastrophe they have witnessed.

It is a powerful story for us as well. Years of financial shenanigans, much which abused the needs and dreams of the poor, have created great injustice in our nation. For years there has been a transfer of wealth, concentrating increasing proportions into the hands of the wealthy. We have had a growing class of super-wealthy, while the middle class and poor have made few gains or gone backwards. More and more people have lost access to health insurance. The minimum wage is less in real terms now than it was when I took my first job at minimum wage. The government has promoted tax cuts that favor the wealthy while spending irresponsibly and creating massive national debt. We reacted to the attack of a small, marginalized cell of criminals by elevating them into a movement capable of war and we created wars that have stretched our military and our economy into failure. We have compromised our regulations and looked aside at greed so long that a credit crises has sent our economy into freefall. Unemployment surges. And we have polluted our planet so thoroughly that we are tipping its environment toward unknown and potentially catastrophic changes. The domination system is corrupt at its roots.

Some curses are unavoidable. Some aren't.

How might Jesus turn over the tables and restore integrity and justice in our time? Like Jerusalem, it is too late to save some things. What can we yet restore?

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas