"The Lenten Pilgrimage" - Day 35

March 29th

Monday of Holy Week

    “In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves.  Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’  And the fig tree withered at once.”

     Matthew 21:18-19

     Walk slowly now in these holy days.  Don’t rush by quickly as one hurrying through a museum of religious artifacts.  Look closely, not with mere eyes of curiosity.  You are not a tourist, come to take pictures for a dusty scrapbook to remind you in your old age of a Holy Week vacation you took once.

     You are a pilgrim on pilgrimage.  And if you look carefully with eyes eager to see and a heart longing to hear, the message of Holy Week can burn deep into your soul.

      Take the fig tree, for example.  Observe its barrenness.  It has leaves, yes - but no fruit. 

  

      Our Lenten Journey has led us to the holiest week of the Christian Year.  The cross looms before us, beckoning to us, probing our witness, examining us for fruit.

      The question for Monday of Holy Week - What is the fruit of my Christian Discipleship?

Prayer  

     Lord Jesus, the shouts of "Hosanna" have now faded into memory.  And with each passing

     stride you are taking us closer to the cross.  And on this Monday of Holy Week, we cannot

     help but feel your penetrating gaze upon us, searching us for fruit as you did the barren

     fig tree.  Forgive us Jesus, for our own propensity for barrenness.  Help us to hear again 

     the wisdom of your teachings.  Empower us to bear fruit that will last.  In your name we pray.

     Amen.