St John Neumann

Fig trees were important symbols of peace and fertility in the ancient world. Our Jewish ancestors knew that the freedom to sit under a fig tree meant their nation was safe and productive. In today's gospel, because Nathaniel is sitting under a fig tree, Jesus recognizes him as a man of peace and productivity.

All of us should have fig trees in our lives, places where we can go to sit, be quiet, pray and seek peace. Unless we ask regularly, even everyday, what it is the Lord would have us do and be in order to be fruitful disciples, we risk seeking our own fulfillment rather than God's reign.

When St John Neumann came to the United States from what we now call the Czech Republic, he had enormous energy and imagination, but soon realized that there were no "fig trees" where the children of immigrants could go to learn peace and be fruitful disciples. Hence, though he was not a good preacher, thought of himself as uncultured, and was willing to resign as bishop, he is credited with establishing the parish school system in the United States which for more than a century has been recognized as the shining star of the American church.

Many reading this blog attended catholic schools where they learned not only the fundamentals of our faith, but heard the call to be fruitful and multiply. We learned that authentic Catholicism was not passive, but a religion that sought actively to see others with Christ's eyes, and to work together for the good of all. Though today the Catholic school system is struggling to stay alive, we need not despair, but ask God for the imagination to discover new "fig trees" for the education and formation of our young, and the good of our nation and world.

Today, ask God to show you your "fig tree," or go there and pray to be a person of peace who bears fruit for the good of all