This process becomes the seed for a theological reflection critical of the nation
of Israel before the coming of Christ.
“I do not think myself free to apply this passage to people
in general, however: one person is distinctly referred to. For he did not speak
of many trees …, but of one … meaning I think, the Jewish people. How often the
Saviour uses this image in the Gospel! [Lk 13:6; Lk 21:29; Jn 1:48; Mk 11:13-14]
… The fig tree is a good image, for though sprouting from the sound patriarchal
root it never aimed to reach for the sky, never aimed at lifting itself from
the ground, never responded to the root by putting out branches, by blooming to
flower, by an abundance of fruit. O stunted twisted, knotty tree, how
completely ill suited to you is your root. For the root is holy. (Rom 11:16)
Does any thing worthy of it appear in your branches? .… Worthless seed, you
have not brought these forth from that noble root. What it contains is of the
Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20) and in every respect refined and sweet. Where then do
these green figs come from? And really what does that nation have that is not
crude? Neither their actions nor their inclinations nor their understanding;
not even the rites with which they worship God. Their actions are summed up in
strife, their whole orientation was to wealth, their understanding was darkened
in literalism, they worshipped with the blood of sheep and cattle.”
CISTERCIAN FATHERS SERIES: NUMBER THIRTY-ONE - BERNARD OF
CLAIRVAUX – ON THE SONG OF SONGS III
Lest you begin to feel that St. Bernard
is too hard on the Jewish people a reading of Matthew 23:29-36, in fact all of
Mt 23, you will see Jesus equally critical and even condemnatory of his chosen
people.
More on the fig tree as a symbol of
the Jewish people in the next post.
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