Isaiah 55:1-9

Psalm 63

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Luke 13:1-9

To Produce Fruit

The problem with some stories is that they are often geared to a particular time and place. And if you're not from that particular time and place, you may miss a few of the important intricacies. Moving from Michigan to North Carolina placed me in some situations where I simply just did not "get" some of the stories of my new home state. Oh, I tried to learn some of the stories and the intricacies of North Carolina before I moved here. I would peruse the book shelves of libraries looking for North Carolina history books. Of course reading the stories is not the same as hearing the stories told.

It really wasn't until after I joined a Civil War reenacting regiment that I really was exposed to some of the stories of North Carolina. The boys of the 26th North Carolina did a good job of starting to educate me in the intricacies of North Carolina lore. For instance, had I not had my connection with the 26th North Carolina, I would not have known exactly what a "poor man's lunch" was. According to a good friend in the regiment, that lunch is an RC Cola and a Moon Pie. Now, both RC Cola and Moon Pies are not unknown in Michigan, but I never thought about putting the two together. I must say, they do complement each other well.

Of course not knowing all the intricacies of a story is not limited to cultural differences between Michigan and North Carolina. Often there are some little bits of information that are not all that evident but can give great insight to the meaning behind the story. The parable from our reading in Luke is a story like that.

We find Jesus out among the people doing some of the things he does best, teaching and helping people understand God's will better. Jesus fielded a question about why bad things happen to people. He handles these questions as he had handled others like them - he comments that these things happen and then directs our attention to more important, spiritual matters. Initially, it sounds rather curt, almost harsh; repent or die [Luke 13:1-4]. Then Jesus tells an interesting parable [Luke 13:5].

Jesus tells of an owner of a vineyard who spots a fig tree in his vineyard that doesn't produce figs. So, the owner makes a sensible decision; he tells his gardener to cut down the tree [Luke 13:6-6]. Now, this is where knowing some of the intricacies of the culture comes in handy. You see, fig trees will grow in just about any soil and in just about any condition. Vineyards had some of the best soil around. Grapes are the money makers in vineyards, not figs. So, this fig tree was really worthless - it's a type of tree that usually will produce fruit in poor soil, but it's not producing fruit in good soil as well as taking up room that could be used for vines, which produce more valuable fruit.

Then, a strange thing happens; the gardener intercedes for the fig tree. Why? Who knows? The gardener knows that fig trees can grow and produce fruit just about anywhere. And he knows that the tree hasn't produced fruit in three years. So, what does he do? He talks the owner into giving the tree one more year. And then on top of all that, he offers to give the fig tree the very best chance to produce fruit. Not only is the tree in some of the best soil around, but now it's being tended and cared for in the best ways possible. I wonder if it ever bore fruit.

I have to admit that our reading from Isaiah is one of my favorites. It's a vision of reconciliation with God. Isaiah paints a picture of buying food and drink without money [Isaiah 55:1]. Now, Isaiah is not suggesting that God is instituting a check-card or credit card financial exchange system. Instead, he's painting the picture of free sustenance; food that can be acquired for free. And this food is not of the discount variety. It's the very best food; the best quality, the best taste. It really is miracle food. It's the same treatment that the fig tree in the parable was getting - the very best for nothing. There's no need to pay for this food and the fig tree didn't produce any fruit.

Then, Isaiah reminds us about God's covenant [Isaiah 55:3-5]. This is God's "deal" with Israel. It was an arrangement not unlike the one the gardener made for the fig tree. Isaiah says that God "glorified" Israel [Isaiah 55:5]. To be glorified is to be ascribed the highest quality praise - just as the fig tree was given the highest quality care. Then Isaiah tells us to "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" [Isaiah 55:6-8]. This is a call for repentance during a particular time - while the Lord may be found, while he is near. Isn't this like the deal the gardener made for the fig tree? The tree had to produce fruit during a particular time, one year.

Isaiah mentions something else; he mentions that some spend money for things that aren't bread and waste their labor for things that do not satisfy [Isaiah 55:2]. Even in the abundance of God's blessing, some do not accept these freely given graces. They don't change their ways and accept the free, rich food of God. They continue to rely on their own powers and understanding to provide sustenance for themselves by buying lesser food and laboring for things that don't truly satisfy. It's like a tree planted in the best soil and provided with the best care, yet not doing what it was created to do; to produce fruit.

So, what does it mean for us here at Mt. Zion? These are nice stories to tell and hear. Sure, we can use them to describe some great theological concepts like God's grace through Jesus Christ; and how Jesus is like the gardener but instead of interceding for a fig tree, he intercedes for us. But these stories are worthless unless we allow them to live within us; unless we let them make changes within us; unless we believe these stories to such an extent that we intentionally change our lives based on them - our lives individually and our life together as a congregation.

Like the fig tree, Mt. Zion is located in fertile ground. Like the fig tree, we have roots, branches, and leaves that are all functioning. We are capable of producing great fruit. I think that we do produce some fruit; but not to the quantity or quality that we have the potential for. We can achieve the quality and quantity by accepting that heavenly food God offers called grace. Yes, sometimes that food is like the manure that the gardener puts around the fig tree. Sometimes we don't want to deal with these gifts and graces like forgiveness; I'm not simply talking about God forgiving us, I'm also talking about the gift of forgiving others. We have the gift of forgiving others because God has forgiven us. When we don't accept the grace of forgiveness for others, it's hard to accept the grace of truthfulness. It’s hard to really be truthful when we're afraid of not being forgiven.

Because we struggle to accept these graces, the fruit that we bear is hindered; hindered to the point that we're unsure of exactly what fruit we should bear.

Hear the good news Mt. Zion: the Lord can be found, God is near. He offers us the best food for free; he offers us grace. Our time to bear fruit is now and God has planted us in fertile ground and has fertilized us with his grace. There is plenty of energy here - how we use that energy is important. Do argue amongst ourselves or do we focus it on discerning God's vision for us and the ministries that the vision will bring?

If you thirst and are hungry, God provides. Are we thirsty and hungry for ministry? I think so. Let us accept the food of God's grace so that we can engage in what we were created for; producing the fruit of ministry.

SDG