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Text: Luke 13:6-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brandon and I planted raspberries in our backyard when we moved to Des Moines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is officially the eighth summer\u2026 and we have yet to see an abundant crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A handful of crumbling berries that won\u2019t hold together is all we have ever had the chance to harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were a few years there when I thought I had done something wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I pruned too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or maybe I didn\u2019t prune enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There wasn\u2019t enough water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or too little sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been years when I\u2019ve been like the vineyard owner in our parable this morning and wondered if we shouldn\u2019t just cut it all down and start from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we have tried to be patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One more year, we keep saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the last few months, we\u2019ve watched them with care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We added additional growing medium around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have watered them frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been abundant blossoms and the bees are certainly doing their work of pollenating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But will we have fruit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I must admit, I\u2019m not entirely sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will we have fruit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, friends, that is the question, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it comes at us from so many different directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will we have fruit\u2026 in the sense of will we have enough to eat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will we have the money, in the midst of rising inflation, to cover the costs of supper?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can we find enough to sustain us and satisfy our needs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then again, we can turn the question around and think about our own productive lives\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will we have fruit\u2026 in the sense of are we bearing fruit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are we making a difference in the world or are we just depleting and taking from the world around us? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And as we dive into the scriptures, we find stories of fruit and fruitfulness everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It starts with the third day of creation when God makes trees bearing fruit according to their seed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it continues through to the harvests of the Promised Land of figs, dates, pomegranates, grapes and olives\u2026 all fruits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophets are called from the vineyards, and the instructions for the altar of God include images of pomegranates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the New Testament, we discover parable after parable filled with fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The branches waved in Jesus\u2019 Triumphant Entry would have been boughs of date palms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul begs us to bear the fruit of the Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even in the final chapters of Revelation, the trees bear twelve kinds of fruit, each for a different month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And all of these scriptures are a mix of both God\u2019s provision and God\u2019s presence and power in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God provides abundantly so that we might be an abundant blessing to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is present with us, so that we might be God\u2019s presence in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are fed\u2026 physically and spiritually\u2026 so that we might feed others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we think of all of those \u201cfruitful\u201d metaphors, Margaret Feinberg focuses in on one fruit in particular\u2026 the fig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a constant companion in biblical times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves once they discovered they were naked. (Genesis 3:7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mark of abundance, security, and prosperity in the time of King Solomon was that the people lived securely under their vines and fig trees (1 Kings 4:25) \u2026 a sentiment repeated by the prophet Micah (4:4) and Zechariah (3:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the tree that Zacchaeus climbs in order to catch a glimpse of Jesus\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
you know, that wee little man Zacchaeus\u2026was a sycamore fig tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fig trees were, after all, big enough to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Big enough to provide shade\u2026 and apparently clothing\u2026 with their leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are full of essential vitamins and minerals like potassium and calcium \u2013 providing energy, and are easily dried for storage and transport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the parable that we heard today, we hear about a fig tree that is not fruitful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In three years, it has not born fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One fact about figs that Margaret Feinberg discovered in her process of writing \u201cTaste and See\u201d is that a single fig tree can produce tens of thousands of figs every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TENS OF THOUSANDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, when this fig tree isn\u2019t producing, the owner is furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I might be upset, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat a waste of perfectly good soil!\u201d they exclaim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the gardener is patient and merciful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s give it one more year,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me dig around it and add some more fertilizer.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feinberg goes on to share about the lifecycle of the fig itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first year a fig won\u2019t produce any fruit, and depending on the variety, you may see a handful the second year. The third year will produce more, but the fourth year is the one that will yield a substantial crop.\u201d (Taste and See Bible Study Guide, p. 45)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So\u2026 the owner might just be impatient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t time yet for the fig tree to be filled with abundant fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It needs time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But fig trees also need to be pruned\u2026 extensively\u2026 in order to produce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the first year, it is cut back by around half so that it can focus on growing deep roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In future pruning, you have to care for the suckers on both lower branches and that come up from the ground near the tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the gardener says, \u201clet me dig around it,\u201d they are likely cutting away and removing those suckers and shoots that are detracting from the fruitful growth of the tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pruning creates future abundance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the book of Leviticus, amidst all sorts of provisions like \u201crespect your mother and father\u201d (19:3), \u201cdo not turn to idols\u201d (19:4), \u201cyou must not steal or deceive nor lie to each other\u201d (19:11), and even \u201cany immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens\u201d (19:34), is a provision about fruit trees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you enter the land and plant any fruit tree, you must consider its fruit off-limits. For three years it will be off-limits to you; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year, all of the tree\u2019s fruit will be holy, a celebration for the Lord. In the fifth year you can eat the fruit. This is so as to increase its produce for you; I am the Lord your God.\u201d (19:23-25)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did you hear that? This is to increase its produce for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An abundantly fruitful tree requires pruning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It requires time and nurture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it also requires a season of sabbath and rest and dedication to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We impatiently ask that question, \u201cwill we have fruit?\u201d in the midst of a culture of convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything you want can be delivered the next day to your doorstep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To wait for not just days, but weeks and months and years for fruit is almost too much to bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I actually think this is a story about grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see, in our fast-paced culture, we also find ourselves expecting instantaneous results in our own spiritual lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We join a church, we attend a retreat, we go to a bible study and we think that we should now have it all figured out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We should be ready to go out and bear fruit for God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then we have a set-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slip up in our faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get discouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Friends, the good news is, you don\u2019t have to have it all figured out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discipleship, faith, and fruitfulness all take time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you might spend a couple of years attending a church before you find the ability to take the next step and sign up to join a bible study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might be in a book group for a couple of years before you are ready to ask the deeper questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might go out and serve each week filling the food pantry for a good long while before you are ready to confront justice issues around hunger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, as the story of Zacchaeus reminds us, you might even be living a life that is not only fruitless, but is actually sucking up life and nutrients and taking advantage of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But these parables and stories remind us, it is never too late. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fruitfulness will require pruning\u2026 as we let God cut away those things that suck the life right out of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fruitfulness will require nurture\u2026 sun and rain and even a good dose of fertilizer\u2026 and in our spiritual lives that comes from things like prayer and studying scriptures and worshipping with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But fruitfulness also requires the time and space to simply be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this week, I had ice cream with someone who is entering her third year of seminary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person has been involved with the church her whole life and a relationship with God was always in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After college, she pursued work in her chosen field and it took her to a number of places and companies across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But one day, her position was eliminated and she found herself without a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She went home and sat and listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was only in the space in which she stopped focusing on what she<\/em> could produce that she noticed God speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only in the space where she dedicated some time to discernment that she noticed God moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only in the space where she let go that she was aware of how God was already providing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We often look for fruitfulness in places that aren\u2019t quite ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We try to make our own fruitfulness with endless busyness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We refuse to let go of dying branches so that we can bear fruit in other places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we miss out on the provision that God has already planned for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is to increase its produce for you,\u201d God promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, fruitfulness doesn\u2019t come from me or you or our actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes from God working in and through us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only when we make space for the Holy Spirit to fertilize our souls will we find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God has given us commandments like being honest, and loving our neighbors, and honoring the sabbath, not to see how many mistakes we will make, but because these are the things that will increase our fruitfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are the things that will increase abundance and blessing \u2013 not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And God is a patient gardener, full of mercy and love, pruning us, tending our lives, pouring out grace at every turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, that\u2019s the spirit I\u2019m taking with my raspberries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m going to keep working on them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Will there be fruit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only God knows\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I\u2019m going to try to pass on the love and grace and mercy that God has shown me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not just with our patches of berries or fig trees, but with our family and friends and even with perfect strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And by the grace of God, may there be fruit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" htt Text: Luke 13:6-9 Brandon and I planted raspberries in our backyard when we moved to Des Moines. This is officially the eighth summer\u2026 and we have yet to see an abundant crop. A handful of crumbling berries that won\u2019t hold together is all we have ever had the chance to harvest. There were a…<\/span><\/p>\n