December: Day 31: Teaching 2: On the Eve of the New Year

December: Day 31: Teaching 3:
On the Eve of the New Year
 
(One More Year!)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. At the coming of the new year, I find it very timely, brethren, to offer to your love the parable of Jesus Christ about the barren fig tree.

“Jesus Christ spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the vinedresser, ‘Behold, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why should it even exhaust the soil?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well; but if not, then next year you may cut it down’” (Luke 13:6–9).

A new year has come, my brethren.

a) How many people there are in the world, and yet there are not even two exactly alike.

One is like a tree that every year brings forth fruit, and bears so abundantly that its branches bend to the ground under the weight of juicy, sweet fruit. This is a person who constantly labors with both mind and hands, labors honestly and righteously, earns daily bread and a good name, and serves for the benefit of himself and others, of his people and of all mankind.

Another person is like a tree that also bears fruit every year, but its fruit is pleasing to no one: it is sour and bitter. This is one who lives only for himself and not for others; no one gains anything from him — he is a lover of self.

Yet another is like a tree that bears good fruit, but only sparingly, rarely: in a good year some little apple or pear may appear on it, but for the most part it stands for many years without fruit. This is a careless person who lives, as the saying goes, neither for God nor for people; he cares neither about himself nor about others; he resembles manna that does not wish to fall from heaven.

But there are also people like that fig tree of which Jesus Christ spoke in His parable, standing in the midst of the garden, to which the owner came for three years to see whether at least one fig had grown on it — and found nothing. These are people in whom you will not find a single good or wise deed, who live in the world not as human beings but as irrational animals. They never think about their souls, do not lift up their hearts to God, do not go to church and do not pray at home; they have no kind word for anyone. In short, their life is useless, and they occupy a place among people in vain.

b) And do you know, friends, who that master is who came into his garden, sought fruit on the fig tree, and, finding none, ordered it to be cut down? It is the Lord God, our Heavenly Father; the garden is this world; and the vinedresser is our Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord God cannot tolerate a foolish, evil, sinful person who occupies a place in the world to no purpose. But Jesus Christ, having become man, had mercy on sinful mankind and interceded for sinners before His Heavenly Father, as if saying: “Lord God, My Father, do not punish them; they are not alone to blame for having become such; they were brought up this way. No one watched over them when they were small; no one warmed their hearts, no one enlightened their minds. They grew as that fig tree grew — undug, unfertilized. Its roots were entangled with thick couch grass, everything around it was overgrown with weeds; neither light nor the warmth of the sun reached it; no one cleared it of moss and weeds, no one pruned it or cared for it as was necessary — therefore that fig tree could not bear fruit. So also these people: they could not be better; no one taught them, no one educated them. They did not know letters, did not know how to read books; they did not know what faith they belonged to, and even if they knew, they did not know what that faith required of them. But now I,” continues the vinedresser — the Lord — “will dig around this fig tree, lay fertilizer, cleanse it, take care of it, and it will bear fruit. And if even then it bears nothing, next year I will cut it down.”

What a wise instruction is contained in this parable of our sweetest Lord Jesus Christ!

II. Indeed, such were people before the coming of Christ — like that barren fig tree. But Jesus Christ appeared among us with His divine teaching, and by this teaching He instructed and penetrated to the depths of human hearts, just as the vinedresser dug down to the roots of the fig tree. He tore out sin from there, as a gardener uproots weeds by the roots, and He fertilized the soil, that is, He renewed the world with His law and watered the fig tree not only with His sweat, but with His blood. Do you now understand, brethren, this parable, which is so fitting to recall now, at the beginning of the new year?

a) Let each one then ask himself in conscience: am I not like this fig tree? Where are the fruits of the years I have lived? Were there none at all, or were they small, sour, bitter — when they could have been large, sweet, and pleasant? My God! If You were now to call me to Judgment and ask: where are the fruits of my mind, my heart, my feelings, my labors — what would I say, having none, being like the barren fig tree? But I am still alive; I still occupy a place in Your garden; the Vinedresser — my Savior, Jesus the Lover of mankind — still intercedes for me! He asks for me: “Lord, do not cut him down; endure yet one more year!” How much instruction there is for us in the new year in these words: “Lord, one more year!” This is said not for saints, righteous, and pious people, but for sinners, for the ungodly! They are threatened with being cut down, like that fig tree — meaning that their life deserves eternal destruction… Oh, repent, sinners; amend your life; bring forth the fruits of your repentance! — One more year!

b) You who are given to wine, think: how many hard-earned coins have you taken from your good, honest family for the sake of your sinful habit? And yet the Savior asks His Heavenly Father for you: “Lord, endure him yet one more year! He will repent, come to his senses, and bear good fruit, as many who were once drunkards have borne!”

c) One more year! This concerns you, parents, guardians, masters — you who have given life to your children, or have been entrusted with others’ children, or who have servants and workers not only dependent on your bread but also on your conscience. Tell me, parents: why are there so many evil people in the world? Why was the fig tree barren? Because it was planted but not cared for, its roots not dug around, the soil not fertilized, it was left without any attention. The same happens with very many children. Parents give them life, but watch over a lamb or a calf more carefully than their own child. With great difficulty they teach him prayers, and even then almost every word is confused. They do not send him to school unless the child is taken by force. And what does he learn at home? Idle and sinful amusements, abusive words, swearing and foul language. From childhood the child already knows obscene curses and many impure words, but sacred words, holy and beautiful thoughts, and good deeds he does not know at all. Children grow up even worse than that fig tree: it bore no fruit, but neither did it bear thorns; while our children are sometimes raised in such a way that they resemble a wild apple tree in the forest — one cannot even approach it, surrounded by thorns; and if you taste its apple, you regret it: so sour it is, such wildness! Oh, much, very much of this wildness exists among us! And so for you, parents, our sweetest Lord Jesus asks His Heavenly Father: “One more year, Lord! They will repent; they themselves will abandon their old sins and habits and will not tempt their children with them. They will care for their enlightenment with the light of the Church, good learning, and good books.” And what is said of children must also be understood of orphans, servants, and all those who are under our care.

d) And for you, children, here is a lesson: do not yourselves become like the barren fig tree. Do not say: “I will not go to church or to school; why should I study?” Love learning as something sweet; run to where it can be obtained — only avoid harmful learning, and turn your eyes and ears away from bad customs!

III. Read more often, friends, this parable of Christ about the barren fig tree. Read it — it is beautiful and full of wisdom — and take to heart the words of our Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever. Amen.

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.