Reflection for FRIDAY 8th Week in Ordinary Time

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod


Reflection after Meditative Reading of Today's WORD of GOD 

 Mark 11: 11- 26 


The fig tree; the cleansing of the Temple

After he had been acclaimed by the crowds, Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked all round him, but as it was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

  Next day as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf some distance away, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. And he addressed the fig tree. ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’ he said. And his disciples heard him say this.

  So they reached Jerusalem and he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And he taught them and said, ‘Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’ This came to the ears of the chief priests and the scribes, and they tried to find some way of doing away with him; they were afraid of him because the people were carried away by his teaching. And when evening came he went out of the city.

  Next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the roots. Peter remembered. ‘Look, Rabbi,’ he said to Jesus, ‘the fig tree you cursed has withered away.’ Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you solemnly, if anyone says to this mountain, “Get up and throw yourself into the sea,” with no hesitation in his heart but believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you therefore: everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours. And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too. But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your failings either.’

Reflection on the Readings 

An End & a Beginning

Mark’s Gospel Sets JESUS' Cleansing the Temple in Some Association with His Cursing the Fig tree & Its Withering, since the Story of the Fig tree Envelops the Other Incident, a Style Quite Common in Mark. 

JESUS was Doing more than Cleansing the Temple, for HIS Words, Drawn from the Old Testament, Announce a New Type of Temple: “My house shall be Called a house of Prayer for All People.”

In Those Days, Non-Jews were Forbidden under Pain of Death to Advance Beyond the Outer Court of the Gentiles, & the Roman Authorities Ratified This Prescription. But JESUS Draws from an Old Testament Passage (Isaiah, 56) from a tradition which was Not Dominant in the Life of Israel, though the Words Give an Understanding of GOD'S Plans for the Future of HIS People. 

Clearly, HE Wants Them to Live More Prayerfully & More Generously Towards Others, & Let Outsiders to Share in the Jewish Prayerful Awareness of GOD'S Presence.

A house of Prayer

Mark Often Links 2 Stories Together that He Feels have Something in Common. 

Today He Links the Story of JESUS in the Temple with the Story of JESUS & the Fig tree. JESUS could Not Find Any Fruit on the Fig 🌳, & HE declared that the 🌳 had No Future. 

Mark is Implying that when JESUS Entered the Temple HE Found that It was Not Bearing the Fruit It was Meant to Bear. Instead of Being a house of Prayer It had Become a Robber’s Den. Like the Fig tree, It too had No Future.

At the End of Our Gospel Text, JESUS Again Speaks about Prayer. The Temple will be Replaced by a New church of Prayer, a New Praying Community, the Community of Those who Do the Will of GOD as JESUS has Revealed It, the Community of JESUS' Brothers & Sisters, what came to be Called the CHURCH. 

When JESUS Speaks about Prayer at the End of that Gospel Reading, HE Links It to Forgiveness. ‘When U Stand in Prayer, Forgive Whatever U have Against Anybody, so that Your FATHER in Heaven may Forgive Your Failings Too.’ 


Good Morning

Have a blessed Friday

Let's pray for peace in Manipur.