The Fig Tree and the Danger of an Empty Soul

Fr. Scott Haynes

From a distance the fig tree looked alive. Its leaves were full and green. Anyone walking toward it would expect fruit.

But when Christ came near, He found nothing.

That is one of the most frightening images in the Gospel. A soul can look healthy outwardly while inwardly becoming empty. One can still attend Mass, say prayers, speak about religion, and appear respectable, yet secretly lose the life of grace within.

The Gospel says the tree withered “from the roots” (Mark 11:20). Spiritual death usually begins quietly. Long before a great fall appears outwardly, prayer has weakened, charity has cooled, and sin has been allowed to remain hidden.

A healthy soul bears fruit:

• sincere prayer,

• repentance,

• purity,

• charity,

• forgiveness,

• hunger for God.

Leaves are appearances.

Fruit is holiness.

A true story illustrates this powerfully.

Saint Philip Neri once encountered a young nobleman in Rome who was admired by everyone. He was intelligent, polished, well-dressed, and outwardly religious. Saint Philip quietly asked him:

“What then?”

The young man replied that he planned to study law.

“And then?” asked the saint.

“I will become successful.”

“And then?”

“I will gain wealth and honor.”

“And then?”

The young man paused.

Finally Saint Philip asked:

“And then?”

The words pierced him. Beneath all the leaves of success, he realized his soul was starving for eternity.

Many people spend years cultivating leaves:

• reputation,

• appearance,

• success,

• image,

• even religious image.

Meanwhile the soul receives little prayer, little silence, little repentance, and little love.

Christ does not come to admire our leaves.

He comes seeking fruit.

The tragedy is not weakness. Every saint was weak. The tragedy is refusing to let God heal the roots before the soul begins to wither.