Fig trees, fecal matter, and faithful farmers

Good morning, family of St. Andrew’s, Emporia.  Good to be back with you.

As tempting as it is to reflect on the story of Moses being called out of his domestic reprieve back into God’s service by the famous burning bush scene (and, oh how some of us sometimes wish that God would be so clear as to speak to us from a burning bush), I instead want to consider what the Spirit is saying to us about judgment, mercy, and urgency.

Today’s readings employ agricultural imagery as well as food to help us see, hear, and understand that while we’re in this season of waiting for the coming of the Son of Man who will bring justice mercifully, we’re called to exhibit prudence, patience, hope, and faith… while also getting our hands dirty in intentional care taking of what has been entrusted to us.

We’re well into the winter season – as the weather has shown us vividly shown us lately.

Here at St. Andrew’s, we’re well into a period between clerical leadership which has been calling people to use what it is the storehouse for sustenance.

And, some of us might be finding that the themes in this season of Lent are reinforcing awareness of scarcity and desire in our lives… perhaps bringing us into more solidarity with others who lack and want… but in any case heightening our comprehension of what it means to be without.

The Psalmist gives words to some of this, “eargerly I seek… my soul thirsts… flesh faints… barren… dry… no water.” (v1)

And, the Psalmist also call us to remember that God is faithful – God’s “right hand holds me fast” (v8) and therefore I can be “content” (v5) even “rejoice” offer “praises” (v3, 5, 7) amid the current barrenness and waiting.

With this honesty about the present situation which might have some of us suffering while also remaining hopeful and faithful about God’s promises for our future, we come to the warnings and assurances in the Epistle and Gospel lessons this third Sunday of Lent.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he both admonishes and encourages.  He’s writing to the Christians in Corinth who, Paul fears, are falsely believing that, because they participate in some of the sacraments, they’re ‘safe’ from God’s wrath despite their persistent engagement in other pagan practices (E.g., eating meals as part of pagan celebrations before idols and surrounded by sexual revelry).

Paul warns that just as baptism (passing through the sea) and sharing the same spiritual food (manna and water from rocks) didn’t prevent our ancestors from failing in their covenant with God and God’s subsequent judgment on our ancestors; neither will our participation in the sacraments of this church prevent us from sinning or excuse us from God’s judgment.  We might say in modern language that participation in the sacraments of the church are necessary but not sufficient.  Pauls writes, “God was not pleased with most of them and they were struck down in the wilderness.” (v5)

Paul warns against becoming idolatrous, engaging in sexual immorality, complaining, and putting Christ to the test (by persisting in behaviors from your old life while also feeling smug in your new identity as a Christian).  As compassionate and merciful as God is, God still judges our intentions and actions and can/will strike down the proud and arrogant.

And, Paul also encourages that God remains faithful – just as to ancestors – and that the ‘church’ will endure. He calls the Corinthians (and us) to be humble and not so self-assured… ever mindful that “God is faithful and …will not let you be tested beyond your strength …will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (v.13)

As further check on our own self-righteousness, the Gopsel lesson has Jesus re-directing the temptation to shame and blame… and pointing his followers toward appreciation for the mercy that has been shown to us and our responsibility as gardeners in God’s vineyard.

In the previous chapter (12), Jesus has been speaking about vigilance and remaining watchful and faithful because “the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (12:40)… yet people are still trying to interpret signs for clues about the timing of the coming judgment.  In what we heard today, some people were pointing our atrocities that have befallen Galileans at the hands of the Romans – perhaps with a hint of smugness.

Aware that some of his followers were still caught up in a traditional presumption that when bad things happened to people it must be a sign of divine judgment against them (ref. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents” from John 9:2) suggesting also that if you’re not presently suffering then you must be right with God, Jesus refutes the idea that the cited calamity of the Galileans as well as a tragedy of the Judeans, were not examples of divine punishment for sins (if that’s how it worked, who would left standing anywhere?).  He further calls them to beware that just because you’re not presently suffering doesn’t mean that you’re any more guilt-free/sinless than anyone else – you are being held to account just the same… and the time for right relationship with God and your neighbor is short.

To be clear, Jesus says, “unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” (v. 5)

Jesus then tells his listeners, using the metaphor of a vineyard owner ready to fall a fig tree that has failed to bear good fruit, that when a people are just taking up space/land and failing to produce righteousness for God, they deserve the same as the barren fig tree – to be cut down that room be made for those who will produce what God expects, echoing the warnings of John the Baptist who you might recall said earlier, “Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:8-9)

Along with his warning that we’re all to account before God and that God’s judgment will come, Jesus also reassures them/us that God has shown mercy and extraordinary patience with us – we have the time to change our hearts/minds/ways if we choose to make use of it.

Jesus offers hope by speaking about the advocate/gardener. Although there’s already been plenty of time for the tree to produce good fruit (E.g., there’s no real reason not to just cut it down now), the gardener asks the vineyard owner for reprieve (more time / extraordinary mercy) to spare the tree imminent judgment for another season while the gardener once more tills the ground around its roots and fertilizes it.

We’re being offered more time – a second chance, if you will.  God has agreed not to purge the vineyard just yet, but to give the laborers more time to work with the trees that aren’t yet doing what God expects.

And, our hands need to get dirty - making use of even that which others consider waste (manure, dung heap, rubbish pile) – as we offer intentional care, digging/tilling around the roots and applying nourishment to all the trees in God’s vineyard.  (ref: God putting us in the garden to till and keep it. Genesis 2:15).

Time is short… so we better get on with turning away from sin and turning our hearts and minds back toward God, loving each other as Jesus has shown us how to do… and helping others do the same, digging around roots and fearless fertilizing so that all our trees may bear good fruit.

This week of Lent, let’s re-examine our own self-assuredness and examine practices in our own lives that might reveal that we’re a bit too sure of where we stand with God.    

Ask ourselves, are we bearing good fruit, or just taking up space in the vineyard, trusting that just standing here is enough?

Let’s prayerfully consider who advocates for us – who is asking the vineyard owner for more time that we might finally produce what God wants?

And, let’s recommit ourselves to being good gardeners as well – more intentionally tending to the roots and nourishment of each and every trees around us… even getting our hands dirty with some waste now and then…  so that the entire vineyard has dignity and is ready with the owner returns.

AMEN.