The Rev. Melanie L. McCarley
Bad news catches our attention—and sometimes it seems as though this is all there is. Signs and portents in the heavens, these are enough to set us at the edge of our seats. But a closer look at today’s lesson tells us something different—to look for the greening of the fig tree. So, let’s begin with a bit of figgy lore. Did you know that many believe figs, rather than apples, were the fruit on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. Figs are symbols of abundance, fertility and sweetness—they are signs of hope
In today’s lesson Jesus says: “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see these things (signs from the heavens) you will know that he is near, at the very gates.
Our Gospel lesson for this morning comes from the tail end of the thirteenth chapter of Mark, a chapter which is often referred to as “The Markan Apocalypse.” As I mentioned last week—“apocalypse” is a Greek word which means, quite literally, to “pull the lid off”. It speaks to us of a revealing—a revelation of God.
To understand this—it is helpful to consider that Mark wrote his Gospel, in or about the year 70 of the Common Era. It’s a time of Roman vengeance and destruction. The imperial armies have vanquished the First Jewish Revolt and destroyed the temple, desecrating what, for Jews, was nothing less than the sacred heart of the world. It is a time of catastrophe and chaos. It’s a terribly confusing time—and, the truth is, it’s easy to get lost in the devastating or destructive depictions in apocalyptic literature to the point of entirely missing God’s words of hope. This is why it is important to read these texts slowly, thoroughly and carefully—but not literally—in order to get to the message of hope. Because, the truth is, we can understand this passage’s meaning.
Which is what brings us to fig trees.
My mother has a fig tree positioned by the side of our house. Oh, the fig tree has born fruit in the past and the figs have been good, all that you would expect, but nothing remarkable. But this year—this year something stunning happened. That fig tree, which all these years has been putting out regular amounts of figs, had a banner crop—it was loaded with figs right up to the frost. In fact, that tree produced so many figs that my mother found herself in the market for fig recipes. Hence, figs with prosciutto on pizza, fig cakes, fig fudge—fig jam to slather on everything you can imagine—figs to hand out to neighbors and foist off on family members. Each day there more and more figs. So many figs! This year my mother has spoken about that fig tree more than she has talked about her grandchildren. She was considering making a walk-0ut exit from the basement where the fig tree was located—but no more. Talk of upending the fig tree has come to an end. The fig tree has earned its place for posterity.
Here’s another fascinating fact about figs: They ripen quickly—in just two or three days. In order to get them, and to experience their yummy figginess at just the right time, you have to be watching. You must be vigilant and alert—if you want to get your figs. This is key—because not only do humans love figs—so do birds. What’s more, birds are early risers. So, if you’re going to get your figs, you’re going to have to get to that tree before they do—lounge around in your pajamas until noon—and odds are good you are going to be out of luck—and without any figs, because the birds will have gotten there first.
About this time you may be thinking—Melanie, fig jam on my toast is all well and good, but what does any of this have to do with the season of Advent and the coming of Christ?
The message from Mark’s gospel is this: “When the fig tree starts to sprout its leaves, we know good things are on the way. Jesus is near, at the very gates!” This news (these words) are exciting and hopeful. We don’t know when the figs will turn ripe—and so we have to pay attention. We have to be on the lookout every day. We have to be looking around—paying attention to what is happening in ourselves and in the world. The fig tree is a sign of hope in a broken and hurting world.
The Gospel message for today is one of hope in the midst of catastrophe. To really hear it, and receive it’s good news, we have to listen from a position of desolation, chaos, and bewilderment. We have to listen alongside the grieving victim, the displaced refugee, the heartbroken addict, the one deep in the throes of depression, the exhausted caregiver, the mourning spouse. This is where Mark lives—and it is from these depths that he proclaims his good news. This, fundamentally, is a lesson about hope. Hope for ourselves and the world in which we live.
Some say, “Don’t get your hopes up,” but that is precisely what hope is for; hope keeps us turned toward the future. The Roman scholar Pliny said, “Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of the waking man.”
Hope is what gets us up in the early reaches of the dawn to visit the fig tree—to look closely at what is happening and be ready to respond when the time is right.
Remember, in this same reading Jesus emphasizes that, in the end, not knowing when the Son of Man will come again is no excuse for not being aware. As followers of Jesus, we are to keep alert and be on the lookout for signs of hope.
The same can be said for how we Christians are to respond to the hurts and pains of the world in which we live. Rather than hunkering down and holding out—closing the shades, dimming the lights and crawling back to bed; we are urged to be vigilent—to be watchful for signs of the times and ready to respond. Today’s lesson is a call to an active life of faith. A faith which reaches out to those who are hurting; but also a life of faith which encourages us to pay attention to ourselves and our spiritual health. We are to watch over our neighbors, true enough, but also watch over our souls—to be aware of the encroachment of sin, of malaise, of temptation and negative forces on one side—and positive ones on the other. We are to be alert.
Pay attention and what we discover is this—that God is acting in our world—God is preparing us for good things to come—God is working in and through us to bring Good News and great tidings to this world of calamity in which we live. Signs of the times are indeed all around us. Remain alert, watchful and ready to act, for we, have been promised that the Son of God will come again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mchungaji. Melanie L. McCarley Habari mbaya huvutia uangalifu wetu <unk> na wakati mwingine inaonekana kana kwamba hii ndiyo yote ambayo ipo. Ishara na ishara za mbinguni ni za kutosha kutufanya tuwe na wasiwasi. Lakini kuangalia kwa karibu katika somo la leo inatuambia kitu tofauti - kuangalia kwa kijani ya mti wa tini. Kwa hiyo, hebu tuanze na kidogo ya figgy lore. "Hata hivyo, kuna watu wengi wanaamini kwamba tini, badala ya matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya, ni matunda ya ""mti wa maarifa ya mema na mabaya"" katika bustani ya Edeni." "Mti wa tini ni ishara ya utajiri, uzazi na utamu, ishara ya tumaini, na ni ishara ya tumaini, kwa sababu Yesu alisema, ""Jifunze somo kutoka kwa mti wa tini: mara tu tawi lake linapokuwa laini na kutoa majani yake, unajua kwamba majira ya joto yamekaribia.""" "Kwa hiyo, mtakapoona ishara hizi, mtajua kwamba yuko karibu, karibu na milango.""" "Mfano wa kitabu cha Injili ya leo ni sura ya 13 ya kitabu cha Marko, ambayo mara nyingi huitwa ""Apokalipsi ya Marko"" (Mk." Inatuambia juu ya ufunuo - ufunuo wa Mungu. Ili kuelewa hili, ni muhimu kuzingatia kwamba Marko aliandika Injili yake katika au karibu na mwaka wa 70 wa Kawaida. Ni wakati wa kisasi na uharibifu wa Waroma. Majeshi ya kifalme yameshinda uasi wa kwanza wa Kiyahudi na kuharibu hekalu, na kuharibu kile ambacho kwa Wayahudi kilikuwa moyo mtakatifu wa ulimwengu. Ni wakati wa msiba na machafuko. Ni wakati wenye kuchanganyikiwa sana na, ukweli ni kwamba, ni rahisi kupotea katika picha zenye kuharibu au zenye kuharibu katika fasihi ya mwisho hadi hatua ya kukosa kabisa maneno ya Mungu ya matumaini. Hii ndiyo sababu ni muhimu kusoma maandishi haya polepole, kwa undani na kwa uangalifu - lakini si kihalisi - ili kupata ujumbe wa matumaini. Kwa sababu, ukweli ni, tunaweza kuelewa maana ya kifungu hiki. Hii ndiyo sababu tunajifunza kuhusu miti ya tini. Mama yangu ana mti wa tini ulio karibu na nyumba yetu. Mti wa tini umezaa matunda katika siku za nyuma, na tini zimekuwa nzuri, yote ambayo ungeweza kutarajia, lakini hakuna kitu cha ajabu. Lakini mwaka huu... mwaka huu kitu cha kushangaza kilitokea. Mti huo wa tini, ambao kwa miaka yote umekuwa ukitoa tini kwa wingi, ulikuwa na mazao makubwa - ulikuwa umejaa tini hadi wakati wa baridi kali. Mti huo ulizaa tini nyingi sana hivi kwamba mama yangu akaanza kutafuta dawa za kutayarisha tini. Kwa hiyo, tini na prosciutto juu ya pizza, tini keki, tini fudge <unk> tini jam slather juu ya kila kitu unaweza kufikiria <unk> tini kutoa kwa majirani na foist mbali juu ya wanachama wa familia. Kila siku kulikuwa na tini nyingi zaidi na zaidi. Kuna tini nyingi sana! Mwaka huu mama yangu amezungumza juu ya mtini huo zaidi kuliko amezungumza juu ya wajukuu wake. Alikuwa akifikiria kufanya kutembea-out exit kutoka chini ya ardhi ambapo mti wa tini ilikuwa iko <unk> lakini si zaidi. Mazungumzo ya kugeuza mti wa tini yamekwisha. Mti wa tini umepata mahali pake kwa ajili ya vizazi vijavyo. Jambo jingine lenye kupendeza kuhusu tini ni kwamba zinakua upesi - kwa siku mbili au tatu tu. Ili kufurahia na kufurahia ladha ya matunda hayo mazuri wakati unaofaa, ni lazima uendelee kuwa macho. Lazima uwe mwangalifu na mwangalifu ikiwa unataka kupata tini zako. Hii ni muhimu <unk>kwa sababu si wanadamu tu wanaopenda tini <unk>lakini pia ndege. Isitoshe, ndege huamka mapema. Kwa hiyo, kama wewe ni kwenda kupata tini yako, wewe ni kwenda kuwa na kupata kwamba mti kabla ya wao kufanya lounge kuzunguka katika pajamas yako hadi adhuhuri na uwezekano ni mzuri wewe ni kwenda kuwa nje ya bahati na bila tini yoyote, kwa sababu ndege itakuwa gotten huko kwanza. "Mimi naweza kusema, ""Melanie, jamu ya tini kwenye toast yangu ni nzuri na nzuri, lakini nini chochote cha haya kinachohusiana na msimu wa Advent na kuja kwa Kristo?""" Ujumbe kutoka kwa injili ya Marko ni huu: <unk>Mti wa tini unapoanza kuchipua majani yake, tunajua mambo mazuri yanakaribia. Yesu yuko karibu, kwenye malango! Habari hii (maneno haya) ni ya kusisimua na yenye matumaini. Hatujui ni lini tini zitakapokomaa, kwa hiyo ni lazima tuwe makini. Ni lazima tuwe macho kila siku. Lazima tuangalie kuzunguka - kukazia fikira kile kinachotokea ndani yetu na ulimwenguni. Mti wa tini ni ishara ya tumaini katika ulimwengu uliovunjika na wenye kuumiza. Ujumbe wa Injili ya leo ni ujumbe wa matumaini katikati ya msiba. Ili kuisikia kweli, na kupokea habari njema, ni lazima tusikilize kutoka katika hali ya kutatanika, machafuko, na kutatanika. Ni lazima tusikilize pamoja na mhasiriwa mwenye huzuni, mkimbizi aliyefukuzwa, mraibu mwenye moyo uliovunjika, yule aliye katika hali ya kushuka moyo, mtoa huduma aliyechoka, mwenzi wa ndoa anayesikitika. Hapa ndipo Marko anaishi <unk> na ni kutoka katika kina kirefu hiki kwamba anatangaza habari zake njema. Hii, kimsingi, ni somo kuhusu tumaini. Ni tumaini kwa ajili yetu na kwa ajili ya ulimwengu tunaoishi. Wengine husema, "Usiwe na matumaini mengi", lakini hilo ndilo kusudi la tumaini; tumaini hutufanya tuendelee kutazama wakati ujao. Mtaalamu Mroma Pliny alisema, "Tumaini ni nguzo inayotegemeza ulimwengu. Matumaini ni ndoto ya mtu aliyeamka, matumaini ndiyo yanatufanya tuinuke asubuhi na mapema ili tutembelee mtini, tuangalie kwa karibu kile kinachotokea na tuwe tayari kujibu wakati unaofaa. "Kumbuka kwamba katika usomaji huohuo Yesu anasisitiza kwamba, mwishowe, kutokujua wakati Mwana wa Mtu atakapokuja tena si udhuru wa kutokuwa na ufahamu.""" Kama wafuasi wa Yesu, tunapaswa kuwa macho na kuangalia kwa makini ishara za tumaini. Jambo hilo linaweza kusemwa pia kuhusu jinsi sisi Wakristo tunavyopaswa kukabiliana na majeraha na maumivu ya ulimwengu tunaoishi. Badala ya kuketi chini na kushikilia - kufunga vivuli, kuzima taa na kutambaa kurudi kitandani; tunahimizwa kuwa macho - kuwa macho kwa ishara za nyakati na tayari kujibu. Somo la leo ni wito wa maisha ya imani yenye bidii. Ni imani ambayo hufikia wale wanaojeruhiwa, lakini pia ni maisha ya imani ambayo hutuhimiza kujilinda na afya yetu ya kiroho. Ni kweli kwamba tunapaswa kuwaangalia jirani zetu, lakini pia tunapaswa kuwaangalia nafsi zetu - kuwa na ufahamu wa uvamizi wa dhambi, ya hali mbaya, ya majaribu na nguvu hasi kwa upande mmoja - na zile nzuri kwa upande mwingine. Tunapaswa kuwa macho. "Tunajua kwamba Mungu anafanya kazi katika ulimwengu wetu, Mungu anatuandaa kwa mambo mazuri yatakayokuja, Mungu anafanya kazi ndani yetu na kupitia sisi kuleta Habari Njema na habari njema kwa ulimwengu huu wa maafa tunamoishi.""" Ishara za nyakati ziko karibu nasi. "Kuwa macho, kuwa macho na tayari kutenda, kwa maana sisi tumeahidiwa kwamba Mwana wa Mungu atakuja tena.""" Katika jina la Yesu. Amini.