The first day of #Holy #Week: Holy Monday
This day is the day of cleansing the temple and cursing the fig tree. "In the morning, when He returned to the city, He was hungry. He saw a fig tree by the road and approached it. He found no fruit on it, except leaves. And He said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" The fig tree then withered." Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:11. The evangelist Luke said, "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and came looking for fruit on it but found none." Luke 13:6-9. By using the fig tree as a metaphor for human life, our Savior Christ urges us to turn away from sin and to repent and live a life of worshiping God and bearing good fruit.
The scriptures clearly explain that a person who does not repent or return will be cut off and thrown into the fire, just as the fig tree withers and is cut off. "Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Matthew 3:10. The fig represents the house of Israel, and the fruit represents faith and works.
All of us Christians must bear the fruits of faith and works. We must keep and fulfill the words of the book so that we will not be unfruitful and ashamed when the Lord comes. "Be fruitful in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God." As we commemorate the first day of the Passion, let us remember that human life should not be toiled in vain, withered, or thrown into the fire.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen.
© John's Repentance
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