Mark 11:11-26 NRSVue
11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple, and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves, 16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him, for they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
20In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God., 23Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”,
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Much of what went on in the temple was shallow and fruitless. For Jesus the temple was like the fig tree that had withered. He wants a true change of heart, so that people would worship in spirit and in truth, bearing good fruit.
Reflection
Jesus presents himself as the new temple, and it is open to everyone. He makes his home in us and we in him (John 15:4). We are temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (I Cor 3:16-17). Am I aware of the dignity given me? I am a living temple, and so are those I meet!
Reflection
Much of what went on in the temple was shallow and fruitless. For Jesus the temple was like the fig tree that had withered. He wants a true change of heart, so that people would worship in spirit and in truth, bearing good fruit.
Reflection
Jesus presents himself as the new temple, and it is open to everyone. He makes his home in us and we in him (John 15:4). We are temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (I Cor 3:16-17). Am I aware of the dignity given me? I am a living temple, and so are those I meet!
Reflection
Today’s gospel describes two actions of Jesus whose meaning goes well beyond the action itself. By these actions Jesus surprises us and perhaps even disturbs us, and this makes us think. He enters the temple and expels the sellers, using very strong language. The temple was the holiest place for the Jews, and Jesus is asserting his authority even on that place. No wonder the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to get rid of him, for he was very clearly challenging their authority, and winning the admiration and sympathy of the people.
Reflection
The other action is even more surprising and disturbing – the cursed fig tree withers in one day, and we can only understand it as a prophetic sign. Jesus comes to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pasch, but finds the city and its leaders sterile, unable to welcome him whom they professed to desire. Like the fig tree without fruit, it will wither and die. Jesus is challenging me to bear fruit, and not just live on nostalgia of the glorious past.