Such behavior of the Apostle Paul should be taken for Christians as an example of a correct attitude towards death: on the one hand, we see that the Apostle was not afraid of it, and when it came, he joyfully bowed his head under the sword of the Roman executioner. But, on the other hand, he also gladly accepted the gift of earthly life, using it to serve God and the Church and not daring to arbitrarily bring his transition to eternity closer. Consequently, the holy Apostle equally desired life, because he lived with Christ on earth, and death, because it allowed him to become even closer to Christ. This, brothers and sisters, is the right attitude towards death. This is how we should treat it. Amen.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Earthly life is given to us not so that we can live for our own pleasure and as we please, but in order to work, to please God and bring Him the fruits that He expects from us. This simple truth is contained in the Gospel parable of the barren fig tree.

A certain man had a vineyard in which a fig tree was also planted, figs in our language. The fig tree did not bear fruit for several years in a row. And so the owner said to the gardener: cut it down, why does it occupy the land in vain? But the gardener loved his trees and began to beg the owner: wait another year, I will fertilize it and dig it up, let's see, maybe then it will bear fruit? If not, then in a year you will cut it down.

This parable has several meanings at once. Directly, of course, it refers to the people of Israel, depicted here in the guise of a fig tree. However, it can also have another interpretation, according to which the vineyard is the Church of Christ, and the fig tree is every member of the Church, every Christian. The owner of the vineyard is God the Father. The gardener is Christ. Thus, we must apply this parable to ourselves. Each of us is a fig tree planted in God's garden, that is, in the Church. Just as a tree is required to bear fruit for its owner, so the Lord expects each of us to bring Him the fruits for which He created us and brought us to His Church. The fruits should be understood as Christian virtues: love for God and for people, mercy, meekness, humility, generosity, courage, generosity. If we offer this, then the Lord rejoices over us, as the owner of a garden rejoices when looking at trees strewn with beautiful fruits. The Lord is a very merciful host, He is willing to endure and wait, even if we bear very little fruit. However, when a Christian completely ceases to bear the fruits of good works, and only breeds the thorns of evil, then God the Father says to the Son of Christ: "Why does this man occupy the earth in vain, why does he occupy a place in the Church?" However, Christ, Who Himself became man and died for the salvation of people, always intercedes for them before the Heavenly Father and by His mercy, as it were, binds His justice. He begs the Father to wait until He Himself creates all the conditions for man to reform and bear fruit. This kindness and care of Christ is evident from the fact that the gardener in the parable was going to fertilize the fig tree. After all, fig trees in southern countries are usually not fertilized, they grow there on their own, often right on the side of the road. If the gardener wanted to fertilize it, it means that he really loved and felt sorry for this barren tree, so that he was ready to do for it what no one usually does. This is what Christ does: He is ready to create all the conditions for a person's spiritual growth, if only the person would be corrected and bear fruit. If, however, he does not correct himself after this and there is no hope that he will change for the better, then he is threatened with being cut down, like a barren tree...

There is another possible understanding of this parable – in relation to all mankind. According to him, the vineyard is the world, the fig tree is the human race, the owner is God the Father, and the gardener is Christ. As each individual and mankind as a whole, we must bring to God the fruits that He expects from them, the fruits of holiness and righteousness. As long as the world gives birth to saints, it will stand. But when the remnant of holiness and righteousness among people is completely exhausted, then the Lord will cease to exist in this world, for it will no longer bear good fruit, but will only serve to increase evil.

Thus, the time of earthly life has been given to us, brothers and sisters, so that we may bring to God the fruits of righteousness and Christian perfection. We must always have this goal before us and strive for it. Let us thus rejoice our Lord, let us please Him, let us bring forth the fruits of a virtuous life that are pleasing to Him. For then the Lord will make us partakers of His joy, then we, too, according to the word of the Gospel, will enter into the joy of our Lord, into a joy that has no end. Amen.

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