GOSPEL READING: Mk 11:11-26
Mark has given this story in a ‘sandwich’ form. The outer part concerns the fig tree, the inner part concerns the temple. The story of the fig tree helps us to understand the temple-event. The episode at the temple helps us to understand the story of the fig tree. The fig tree incident by itself looks peculiar (it was not the season for figs). The story of the fig tree is an acted out parable.
Cleansing of the temple is Jesus’ way of protesting to the commercialization religion, worship. So he wanted all the non-religious activities to be stopped so that the temple becomes a place of prayer and worship. This incident seems to be so at the appearance. But there seems to be a deeper meaning behind it. There is a tone of judgement passed on.
God had promised to bless Israel through the Temple. If Israel took this promise for granted then God would punish them and pass judgment on them. The temple was to symbolize God’s presence in Israel for the sack of the world. But the Jews had organized the religion in such a nationalistic (narrow minded) view that it excluded the other people. So the temple itself is under judgment (no stone will be left on top of the other). Jesus asks for Faith in God and forgiveness of one another as the means to establish the kingdom.
