Fig Leaf
When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves,
for it was not the season for figs. (Matthew 11:13b)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you,
when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
(John 1:47-48)
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Two interesting passages, one fairly harsh lesson:
A tree without fruit reveals unbelief.
A fig tree will fruit first, before it leafs out,
so a tree that has leaves should have fruit underneath.
Fruit underlies the outward appearance;
at least that’s the way it is supposed to be.
And how true this is of the human condition:
to say we’re a thing when we’re not is deceit.
When I say what I am, and I am what I say,
then I’m like Nathanael: a man without guile.
When Jesus first saw him there under the fig tree,
He knew he’d bear fruit; about this, no denial.
Our fig leaves conceal us on Facebook and Twitter,
daring the world to see what is behind.
We're fearful our flaws will soon be discovered;
our facade and its shallowness, others will find.
And so we beguile and we weave and deceive;
naked, ashamed, we hide in those leaves,
not trusting the one who tore back the curtain,
purchased us broken, in anguish and grief.
You may not recall, but shortly thereafter,
at this deceit, Jesus levels a curse.
He returns from the temple with his disciples;
the fig tree is withered, unbelief is judged worse.
A blessing is given to those who admit need:
a dwelling place readied, with many a room.
But woe to false pretense and to the deceivers,
whitewashed and empty, alone in their tombs.
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for the This or That, Vol 11 Poetry Contest
sponsored by Edward Ibeh
on the subject of 'Fig Leaf'
written 04/02/2022
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