FIRST READING
1 Peter 4:7-13
Beloved:
The end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and sober-minded so that you will be able to pray. Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
ALLELUIA
See John 15:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mark 11:11-26
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.”
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
REFLECTIONS:
Why did Jesus curse a fig tree? Fig trees were a
common and important source of food for the Jews. Bad figs or a decaying
fig tree was linked with evil deeds and spiritual decay. The unfruitful
fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the word
of God. The prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the
desolation and calamity of Israel due to her unfaithfulness to God (see
Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). The history of Israel is
one long preparation for the coming of the Promised One. But the promise
is unfulfilled in those who reject Jesus through unbelief. (See also Jesus
parable of the barren fig tree in Luke
13:6-9). Jesus cursing of a fig tree is a prophetic action against
the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful
and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16;
Col. 3:16)and be rooted in love (Galatians 5:6).
Jesus cleansing of the temple was another prophetic action. In this
incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple
of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money
changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more
than was right in the house of the Lord no less! Their robbery of
the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor.
In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets
Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the
worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways.
After this incident Jesus exhorts his disciples to have
faith in God. They are to pray with expectant faith no matter how
difficult the situation may be. The phrase to remove mountains was a
common Jewish expression for removing difficulties. A wise teacher who
could solve difficulties was called a mountain remover. If we pray
with faith God will give us the means to overcome difficulties and obstacles.
If we want God to hear our prayers we must forgive those who wrong us as
God has forgiven us. Do you pray with expectant faith?
"Lord Jesus, increase my faith and make my fruitful and effective in
serving you. Help me to forgive others just as you have been merciful towards
me"
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