Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mk 11: 11-26
June 2, 2023 | Friday

Today’s Gospel

So Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And after he had looked all around, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day, when they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. In the distance he noticed a fig tree covered with leaves, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Then Jesus said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit!” And his disciples heard these words.

When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple, and began to drive away all the people he saw buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the stools of those who sold pigeons. And he would not let anyone carry anything through the temple area.

Jesus then taught the people,”Does not God say in the Scriptures: My house will be called a house of Prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard of this, and they tried to find a way to destroy him. They were afraid of him, because all the people were astonished by his teaching.

When evening came, Jesus left the city.

Early next morning, as they walked along the road, the disciples saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter then said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered. “And Jesus replied, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea’ and have no doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be done for you. And when you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.”

A plant bears fruit not only for itself but for other organisms around them. A tree bears fruits because it did not just accumulate the nutrients it gathered to just grow stronger or taller, but also to give back to nature what it has received from it. In our spiritual life, we are also called not just to accumulate the world’s resources for our own interests. Those who do so make God’s temple, us, his followers, a den of thieves. We are planted by God in each of our situations – both good and bad – to eventually grow and give delight and service to God and others. And with all the mercy, graces, and blessings that God has already poured on us, we don’t have any excuse not to bear enough fruits for Him and for our neighbors. /Vulnerasti, 2023