Looking For Fruit

For Tuesday, November 6th

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you

repent, you will all perish just as they did.’

 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and 

he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See 

here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I 

find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, 

let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it 

bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’ 

Luke 13:1-9

It is election day here in the United States. Although it is a midterm election

there is much hype and conversation about voting these days. Many states

have had incidents of voter suppression. Many people are exhausted by all

of the name calling that has gone under the guise of political discourse. Yet

we are called, to bear fruit and to live our lives in the care and service of

others. I pray that folks will bear fruit, the kind that welcomes the stranger

with open arms, which gives itself away and sees the face of God in the

other.

Jesus is his most raw and intense as he prepares to face the end of his ministry

on earth. He knows that people don't listen and act selfishly in most cases. He

knows how greedy we can be. Yet he expects us to bear fruit, the fruit of love

and inclusion. We are not the gardeners who cut down the useless trees. We are

the trees that can be fruitful or a drain on all of the grove. We are called today

to bear good fruit for the healing and care of the whole world.

Today, I ask God to help me be a productive servant of all. May we open 

our arms, share what we have and be fruitful in all that we do.