The Necessity Of Bearing Fruits

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

March 25, 2025

in Spritual Growth

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March 23, 2025
Readings: Exodus 3:1-5
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
3rd Sunday of Lent 2025 Homily – Abp. Hines

The Gospel reminds us not to judge others. Too often we blame others for something wrong done. It’s never us who are to blame. We always point fingers at others. In reality, we are no better than they are. Jesus then gives them a parable. The story of the fig tree which did not bear fruit. The landowner tells the caretaker to cut down the tree for it is not bearing any fruit. He had been coming back to check the vineyard for three years and the fig tree still did not bear fruit. The caretaker pleaded to the owner to give him a chance or another year to turn the tide around.

If you are a farmer, you’re going to make sure the land is fertile. You take out the weeds, fertilize it and plant your seed firmly on the ground. You would want the best for your family. But this particular fig tree, although it was planted on a vineyard in the choicest area, did not bear fruit even in three years time. Christ is telling us something here. Too often we hear these stories without really understanding what Christ is wanting to tell us.

What God has done for us is always the best. In creation, He made sure to first create the sun, the moon, the stars, water, air, vegetation. He made sure all these things were in place for man to enjoy and benefit from after he was created. What God did was perfect. To this very day, everything is still functioning. Scripture says the earth will never pass away.

The fig tree was planted in the best condition and yet why did it not yield fruit? The caretaker pleaded with the landowner to give him time to turn the situation around. He would put fertilizer, he would nurture it and monitor its growth. God has prepared everything for us in perfection. Man is the one who’s causing his own problems. God has planted us in the vineyard in the choicest area. We must be the ones to produce and bear fruit. He’s given everything pertaining to life and godliness for us to prove the will of God for us. He has given us the strength to do this. God will never forsake us.

The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and were treated badly. After 400 plus years in Egypt, God saved them and brought them out of Egypt. And yet after crossing the Red Sea, they began to murmur and complain. They were missing the garlic and the leeks of Egypt. We are doing the same thing today. God has given us so much, and yet we would rather replace Him with the systems of the world. We should not forget any of His benefits. He pardons our iniquities, He forgives our sins, He heals our diseases, He crowns us with His loving kindness. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. If we are not holding on to God, we are actually slaves to the world system.

Lent challenges us to reflect on what God has done for us through Christ. He saved all of mankind. We must realize who we are. We are sons and daughters of God. The solar system comes from the sun which never ceases to shine. He provided leaves which are for the healing of the nations. We must believe in the faithfulness of God. But we’ve allowed ourselves to be slaves of the world. We have been deceived into thinking that things are not the best. We need to put our faith in God. In Him we have redemption as sons. In Lent, we must be preparing for the life He has intended for us.