Mediocrity

“Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.” (Pope Saint John Paul II).

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Abel Grimmer)

I have been reflecting on the parable of the unfruiting fig tree.

“Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:1-9).

We hear a lot about fig trees in the Gospels.

My husband was born in Lebanon and grew up there and fig trees are very commonly planted.  Most gardens have at least ne fig tree in them and some of the trees are very very old.  The older the tree, the more fruit it produces.  Figs are very widely enjoyed across the Middle East.  There is also another kind of tree in the area, and that is the grape vine.  While technically not a tree, it is a plant that also produces fruit.  While the fruit of the fig tree can be eaten fresh (or dried) the fruit of the grape vine can not only be eaten fresh (or dried) but it can also be produced as wine and sold as a valuable alcohol.  This is not only the case today, but it was also true twenty centuries ago, when Christ was preaching.

Importantly, a fig tree  takes up a lot of real estate.  The branches stretch out to soak up the sun and they take up a lot of space.  The older the tree the further its diameter stretches until it takes over quite a lot of space without growing very tall at all.  In contrast, a grape vine takes up very little space at all.  The plant is tall and thin and does not spread out.  Rather it is able to be turned around a beam or pole and produces valuable fruit with less inconvenience than the fig tree, that produces less valuable fruit in a more costly way (because the amount of land required for the harvest is very large).

There was nothing missing from the fig tree in the parable.  It had soil and sunlight and nutrients and water.  But it did not fruit.

And that is ME…

I have everything necessary to be a Saint, but I just do not want to bother with that last bit… And I have been thinking about that today as I have been recalling the words of Sint Thérèse of Lisieux who said, “You cannot be half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all.”

For the true message of this parable is for me and it says…  “Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.” (Pope Saint John Paul II).

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.