Reflections Under the Fig Tree

"Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any."

Luke 13:6 NIV

The arrival of the vineyard owner in search of fruit prompted me to reflect on a book, including the following... Many of those who work the land, in order to eat their lunch, usually stop there because it offers coolness, and if it has ripe fruit, even better. Every vineyard will always have one or more fig trees, depending on the size of the field. I was a young student when the German theologian Jürgen Moltmann, who passed away last year, asked a critical question about the charismatic and therefore Pentecostal movement: “Where are the charisms of these charismatics in the everyday life of the world, in the movements for peace, for liberation, for respect for the environment?” He then followed up with the answer: “Charisms are not given to us so that we can escape from this world into a world of religious dreams, but so that we can bear witness in the world to the liberating power of Christ...” (Lo Spirito della vita, Queriniana, Brescia 1994). If we look at the vineyard as a whole, including the fig tree or fig trees present in it, and then refer to the recognizable work of the church in favor of those who are or are not part of it (and especially the latter), I believe an answer to the question is in order. Without going into the specifics of the church's “external relations,” its relationship with society, being a church in a secular state, and similar issues related to these, I believe that for too long a part of the experience of faith has remained strongly tied to the individual.

For several decades, however, faith has matured, gradually emerging from the basements where places of worship were relegated and meeting the needs of the poor and the orphaned, even raising its voice on behalf of the oppressed. Just consider the many missionary works and initiatives around the world that involve many communities and, in some cases, even see them as initiators and promoters. This is therefore a broader and less subjective and subjectivizing action. In my Pentecostal experience, I can confidently respond to the professor from Tübingen that where there are charisms, there is a church that does not flee from the world, because Christ sent us as sheep among wolves and into the world (those who do not know Him) and sent us to proclaim His message of love (Matthew 10:16; Mark 16:15; John 3:16). The tongues of the Spirit have long been not only the speaking of unknown languages, but these are followed by the ability to speak languages understandable to all at every latitude. It is precisely the action of the Spirit that urges us not to curl up into a ball, but to open up and look at others as equals, if not from above with greater conviction and unquestionable humility. I still recognize the lack of courage in the battles for the environment and peace on the part of the church, which is mostly focused on the spiritual for various reasons.

Climate change is now a fact, and taking a clear stance is a necessity that can no longer be postponed. From the beginning, God placed man in Eden, entrusting him with the care of His handiwork, so that he might protect it and make it fruitful. It is not enough to dream of a better world; we need the courage to fight, because dreams without courage remain only dreams. The same applies to peace at every parallel on earth. In the well-known Beatitudes pronounced in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reserved one for those who work for peace, an indispensable element for being called “children of God” (Matthew 5:9). I believe this can be explained by Christ's mandate for salvation (Mark 16:15-16). Unfortunately, if the Church devotes itself exclusively to politics and social struggles, it forgets Christ and loses its way. We need a Church and vineyard workers who are able to proclaim salvation in Christ without excluding respect for the environment and the defense of peace among peoples, that is, a Gospel that incorporates the individual into the problems of the world and does not isolate him from everyone and everything. The Lord did not take us away from the world, but prayed to the Father that He would preserve us “from the evil one” (John 17:15). I hope that my reflections will also contribute to this.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #38

September 15,   Proverbs 22-24; 2 Corinthians 8

September 16,   Proverbs 25-26; 2 Corinthians 9

September 17,   Proverbs 27-29; 2 Corinthians 10

September 18,   Proverbs 30-31; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

September 19,   Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

September 20,   Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 12

September 21,   Ecclesiastes 7-9; 2 Corinthians 13