Walking In Peace

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In today’s Gospel we once again encounter the fig tree. In Jesus’ time, there would have been many fig trees given the ease with which they grow in the Holy Land. Going back to the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together to make a covering for themselves after they discovered they are naked.

During the reign of Solomon, Israel and Judah live in prosperity with all having their own fig trees. Jesus curses the fig tree in Matthew and Mark, there is the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke and our Gospel today, where Jesus uses the fig tree to give an example of knowing that the end of the age is near by the fig tree being the last tree to produce leaves right before summer.

In John’s Gospel, the soon to be apostle Nathanael first encounters Jesus when “seen” under the fig tree. 

As Advent nears, we hear more about the end times. Praying with those thoughts should be with faith and hope that God’s love, poured out through the Holy Spirit with comfort us for that final journey.