When I think about this week’s gospel and the Parable of the Fig Tree, I don’t just see it as a lesson in God’s patience but as a call for us to reflect on our own lives, especially when it comes to acts of forgiveness. The landowner in the parable is ready to cut down the tree that hasn’t produced any fruit, seeing it as a waste of space, but the gardener intervenes, pleading for more time to nurture the tree, and to give it more time to produce fruit. This reminds me that just as God extends mercy to us, we’re also called to extend grace and mercy to others, even when it feels undeserved or in many cases, difficult.
Forgiveness isn’t easy. When someone wrongs us, our instinct is to act like the landowner; to cut them off, to let bitterness take root, to decide that they are no longer worth our time or patience. But the gardener’s response challenges us to think differently. It teaches us that people, like the fig tree, need time, care, and compassion to grow. Just because someone has hurt us or fallen short does not mean they are beyond redemption. In the same way that God does not give up on us, we are called to resist the urge to give up on others.
This parable also reminds me that forgiveness is not just about the person who has wronged us, it’s also about our own spiritual growth. Holding onto resentment can harden our hearts, making it difficult for us to experience the fullness of love, peace, and healing that God desires for us. But when we choose to be patient, to extend understanding, and to forgive, we reflect the very mercy that God offers us each day.
Someone once told me that when I feel wronged or disagree with someone, I should always “assume good intentions”. This simple phrase has challenged me to let go of resentment and instead choose patience, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness.
Assuming good intentions reminds me that everyone comes from different walks of life, shaped by unique experiences that influence their choices. It helps me recognize that just as my worldview is shaped by how I grew up and what I have been surrounded by, others' perspectives are equally valid. Just because I understand something one way does not mean that another person’s thoughts and opinions are any less meaningful. Their experiences guide their decisions, and it is not my place to judge.
This mindset allows me to pause and consider these factors before addressing an issue. It creates space for learning, not just for me, but for those around me as well. True community is built through collaboration, where we help one another grow, understand, and ultimately journey together toward the Kingdom.
Forgiveness is not a one-way street; it requires a shared effort between members of a community. When we approach each other with patience, compassion, and a willingness to learn, we create a space where grace can flourish, and where we can truly reflect God’s love.
Lent is a time of self-reflection, a season where we are invited to turn back to God and renew our hearts. It is also a time to practice the patience and forgiveness that God so freely gives us. The Parable of the Fig Tree challenges me to look inward and ask: Am I willing to be patient with others as God is patient with me? Am I willing to offer grace, even when it is difficult? Am I open to allowing love and mercy to shape my response instead of judgment?
Like the gardener in the parable, we are called to be cultivators of grace. We are invited to nurture, to wait, to trust that with time, growth is possible. And in doing so, we participate in the transformative power of forgiveness, the kind that not only frees others but also frees ourselves.
Choosing to assume good intentions does not mean ignoring hurt, but rather, approaching difficult moments with an open heart. It means believing that people are capable of change, that relationships can heal, and that forgiveness is not just an obligation but an act of love.
As I reflect on this parable, I pray for the strength to be patient in my forgiveness, to trust in the slow work of grace, and to remember that just as I am given time to grow, I am also called to offer that same gift to others.
--Jerico