HUGGING TREES AND THROWING MOUNTAINS

MONDAY AFTER FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT 2015

Today is Mark 11…the whole chapter. It is not too long, and the first 11 verses is where Mark chronicles Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As we will celebrate Palm Sunday next Sunday, today's reflections have to do with verses 12-25.

Bishop Wright continues to keep us rooted in the complete Old Testament Jewishness of just what is going on. The Gospel’s quotation of Isaiah in verse 17 serves as a reminder.

Today we get another “sandwich” compliments of Mark. Jesus sees a fig tree with no fruit on it and curses it. He then goes into the Temple and demonstrably takes action against all the commerce going on…in the Temple there is no spiritual fruit. The next day as they walk by the fig tree they see it withered up. Next comes an interesting comment from Jesus—he says their prayer can move mountains.

The fig tree and the mountain are related as they both have to do with the Temple and its power. Jesus will in the rest of chapter 11 and then in all of chapter 12 and chapter 13 be dealing with the Temple and all that it represents. The Temple and the authorities are a big-big deal. Many of us when we read of a poor innocent fig tree getting randomly cursed think, “that is not fair.” It is as if we become tree huggers and take issue with Jesus' actions (sorry if you are one and I pray the picture did not offend you, I just could not resist). Now I love nature, but let’s not miss Jesus’ point. The fig tree is the Temple and its authorities…and it will wither and die for losing its God-ordained calling. That is a straight up, almost "trash talking" challenge to those in power.

The mountain is also the Temple and its authorities. The are big and powerful and seemingly immovable. Jesus and the disciples will have to face them. Jesus tells his disciples not that they can pray and move just any old mountain…but very specifically this one of the religious authorities. The religious authorities are standing in the way of God’s Kingdom breaking into this world…Jesus says not to be afraid of any such mountain. He says very specifically that we are to have faith…and we are to forgive.

Which today for us is good news. The church in the West just seems not to be doing terribly well. We are smaller. We perceive we are weaker. We know we are divided and arguing over all sorts of issues…yet the point of today’s reading for us is simple—it we, God’s Temple, are being about God’s work and God’s kingdom…then not to worry have faith.