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Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!" And his disciples heard it...Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. - Mark 11:13-14, 21-23

Although I believe that the fig tree is meant to be symbolic of the Jewish people of the day, we can also see its application to our lives. We, as individuals, are the fig trees. When Christ comes to the "fig tree" that represents you and I, looking for the figs of our spiritual life, will He find a tree, that may look nice with its leaves, but lacking in the things that matter? Or will He find a life that is abundant and prayerfully fruitful? And what does a fruitful and abundant prayer life have? Faith. Faith, that what we ask of God will happen. Not by our own power, but by our complete trust in the Lord to fulfill His promises.

When Christs looks at you, will He find figs that represent your complete trust in Him?

Lord, for those of us that sometimes lack in faith, help us to grown in our relationship with You, so that we may encounter You in our prayer more fruitfully.

Reflection by:

Isaac Cruz

Did you know...

Isaac Cruz is a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in his freshman year. His home parish is St. Michael the Archangel in Clearwater. He was born in Deland, Florida and raised in Mount Olive, New Jersey. He is a convert to the Catholic Church.