Unless on is working on one's spiritual life daily, one will go backwards. Unless we pray for sinners, they will not convert.
The cursed fig tree, a reminder of being cursed for not bearing fruit, reminds me of what has been happening in the past week in Rome.
Those who do not bear fruit will fact Christ's wrath. We do not need to judge, as God will. It is good to understand that the Church has enemies within. But, we do not have to dwell on the cursed fig trees.
Yesterday's reading reminded me of the one we hear in Holy Week. Here it is:
Mark 11:12-25Douay-Rheims
12 And the next day when they came out from Bethania, he was hungry.
13 And when he had seen afar off a fig tree having leaves, he came if perhaps he might find any thing on it. And when he was come to it, he found nothing but leaves. For it was not the time for figs.
14 And answering he said to it: May no man hereafter eat fruit of thee any more for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And when he was entered into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the chairs of them that sold doves.
16 And he suffered not that any man should carry a vessel through the temple;
17 And he taught, saying to them: Is it not written, My house shall be called the house of prayer to all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves.
18 Which when the chief priests and the scribes had heard, they sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because the whole multitude was in admiration at his doctrine.
19 And when evening was come, he went forth out of the city.
20 And when they passed by in the morning they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter remembering, said to him: Rabbi, behold the fig tree, which thou didst curse, is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering, saith to them: Have the faith of God.
23 Amen I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed and be cast into the sea, and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe, that whatsoever he saith shall be done; it shall be done unto him.
24 Therefore I say unto you, all things, whatsoever you ask when ye pray, believe that you shall receive; and they shall come unto you.
25 And when you shall stand to pray, forgive, if you have aught against any man; that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins.
Remember, the important point here is that it was not the season for figs.
Why would Christ curse a tree which is not in season?
He is showing us several things. The first is that we must bear fruit even out of season, when we do not feel like it, when we are not on top of the world, when we are in the Dark Night.
Second, God shows us the power of prayer. If we bless something, it will be blessed.
If we curse something or someone, they will be cursed.
Pray today for Cardinal Kasper and all the enemies of truth. He can be converted and if we keep saying how horrible he is, he may stay that way. I do not want anyone to go to hell. I want Kasper to become a saint.
Bless him and all like him. Bless and do not curse.
Pray for our enemies, even those within the gates before the great cleansing.
Pray for our enemies, even those within the gates before the great cleansing.
