The Family Tree

 Luke 13:6-9: A had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruits on it, but
did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, "For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? Sir, the man replied, "Leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."

      Yesterdays’ passage from Isaiah lamented bad fruit on a good vine. In today’s lesson from Luke, we don’t know if the vineyard was well cared for or not, yet the result is much the same. The vineyard owner is disgusted with the tree that is not productive, and threatens to destroy it if it does not bear fruit. Yet the servant does  show patience and mercy by sayingthat he’d fertilize and care for it another year, and allow it to become fruitful.

      Local singer/ songwriter John Eddie wrote in his song “Family Tree”:

 Daddy had his demons, they moved in for the kill.

 Daddy up and died, left them demons in his will.

 I’m fighting with the devil and he outwits me.

 But Jesus cut me down from the family tree.

      Jesus, like the owner of the vineyard, is merciful in continuing to love and care for us, even as we persist in our sinful ways and fail to bear good fruit. The New Testament message is one of hope for all; righteous and sinners, Jew or Greek, daughter of a drug addicted single mother, or  a son of royalty. All fall short, yet all are saved. Jesus shows no favor based on social status, and does not forsake those who were raised with their own inherited demons. Belief in the power of Jesus to save us,  will cut us down from our own family tree, if it has roots in abuse, addiction or neglect. If our heritage raises expectations we don't meet, Jesus still shows mercy and gives us time to mature and ripen spiritually.

 Thank you, Lord, for your patience with our sinfulness. Help us to be fruitful servants of your
Word. Give us the power to overcome our own demons. Amen.

 Susan