See, as Jesus sees…
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See, as Jesus sees…
The saying is accompanied by a vision of a withered fig tree.1 I wonder; what the Self means by; ‘see as Jesus sees?’ The Self has always insisted I see in my own way.
‘How does Jesus see?’ Eventually, I find the answer. Jesus ‘sees’ as a prophet.1 He cuts through religious and social enculturation to get to the core issue. I feel his power and menace. I realise I am called to ‘see’ in the same way.2
See now, the earth
A withered tree 3
& gaze ahead
To what might be
For barren hearts
The wastelands make
& fruitful souls
A stand do take 4
1In the gospel of Mark Jesus curses a barren fig tree which later withers and dies. Jesus speaks as a prophet and is acting out a prophecy. His prophecy is both personal & communal. ‘If a life does not bear the fruits of justice, compassion and love, sooner or later it becomes cursed and withers.’ Individuals wither if they do not bear the fruits of justice, compassion and love. Cultures wither if they do not bear the fruits of justice, compassion and love. The entire planet withers as humans forsake the path of justice, love and compassion and neglect the life and health of the creatures world and the ecosystems. 3
‘Next day as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf some distance away, he went to see if there were any figs on it, but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. And he addressed the fig tree, ‘May no one ever eat figs from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say this. Next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the roots.’ Mark: 11:12-14, 20. NJB
2 See Saying 256; ‘I used to be a trumpet player’ (William Blake)
See Saying 343; ‘To where the prophets are’
3 See Saying 153; ‘The world will go to sleep and reawaken’
See Saying 320; ‘Wilderness will take a thousand years’
4 See Saying 219; ‘A small Seeger boat’ (Pete Seeger)
Meditation: Is there part of you that sees through religious and cultural enculturation? Spend time with it. What can it see? What does it want?
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