The Holy Martyrs Menas, Victor and Vincent (138-61); Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theodore the Studite (826)
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5; Luke 13:1-9
Read Luke 13:1-9
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s Gospel lesson gives us a beautiful image of Christ being the gardener of life. All of existence is beaming with life and potential but the plant that most captivates his heart is the fruit bearing tree. There is something unique about the image of the tree. It reaches to the heavens, yet it is firmly rooted in the earth. It provides shade, oxygen and beauty to the landscape. Yet today’s parable underlines the fact that in order for the tree to be useful, which pleases the gardener and the owner, it must fulfil it’s most important purpose: produce fruit.
St. Cyril of Alexandria says, ‘If anyone should say that the vine-dresser is the Son, this view also has a suitable reason on its side. He is our Advocate with the Father, our propitiation, and the gardener of our souls. He constantly prunes away whatever is harmful and fulfils us with rational and holy seeds so we may produce fruits for him. He spoke of himself, “A sower with out to sow his seed.” It does not influence the glory of the Son to assume the character of the vine-dresser. The Father assumes it Himself, without being exposed to any blame for so doing. The son said to the holy apostles, “I am the Vine; you are the branches; my Father is the Vine-dresser.” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 96).