Action heroes have an empowering ripple effect across an organization and faith community. With a clear vision and the right motivation for the good of truth and justice, action heroes can bring about a change in culture. But being an action hero who leads from the front, requires the balancing of four key elements: prayer, self-reflection & knowledge, forming disciples, and engaging the whole community.[1]
Sirach is praising the action heroes of the past, the fathers in faith and the prophets, men who would be remembered throughout time. Then we have Jesus, returning from the temple in Jerusalem, we see his action in the withering barren fig tree, right down to its roots, even though he knows it’s not harvesting time. Knowing Jesus never worked a miracle for himself, we can deduce, it was not a punishment for not satisfying his hunger. This event immediately precedes his entering the Temple at Jerusalem where he expects to find people “busy about his Father’s affairs.” Instead, he finds them occupied in worldly activity, often fraudulent and unjust activity. The fruits of honesty and uprightness, Jesus expects to find, are simply not there.[2] So, in a sense the fig tree symbolizes Jerusalem. We can sense that, in his heart, Jesus was feeling the temple had become a place of rejection of the law’s spirit. Jesus was overturning the Jews’ rejection of his Father’s love and mercy for the poor.
Mark’s gospel so often embodies Jesus in action (and when necessary, use words) in accomplishing his Father’s will. Today’s “action hero,” Jesus, is not the laughing Jesus of so many workplace walls, nor the triumphant Risen Christ of so many church sanctuaries. This is the hungry Jesus who can’t be satiated. This is the angry Jesus who attacked the political economy of the Temple, likely contributing to his ultimate fate on the Cross. This is the restless Jesus who reminds us of the "cost of discipleship," to echo Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s famous words. We need this Jesus to push us out of our comfort zones, especially those of us who are not suffering for our faith.[3]
Jesus is comparing the fruitless tree to the heartless Jewish leaders. It’s so easy to lose sight of the takeaways in today’s gospel. Are we honest in our everyday dealings with others? At work, school, play, even at home. Do we realize the Lord’s expectation for us to bear fruit? Do we invest our time well, both in prayer and action?
We are called to be today’s “action heroes” as Jesus’ faithful followers. We’re not called to do it ourselves but trusting in God’s providence. We are called to be faithful to Jesus’ vision of inclusion: the sinners, the widow & orphan, the sick as well as the dying. It’s not just about keeping the rules but rather about compassion. Jesus asks us to overturn any unforgiveness in our lives, thus producing fruit that lasts.
[1] Digital Leaders. Mission possible:
how to lead like an action hero, by
Wendy Merry, May 29, 2018.
[2] ePriest. Jesus and the Fig Tree, by Fr. John Doyle, LC. June 1, 2018.
[3] Onlineministries.creighton.edu. Daily
Reflection by Jay Carney, June 1, 2018.
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