What is the fertilizer? Jesus tells a parable describing God’s patience. The unproductive tree will be given another change to thrive. Leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it. Jesus expects the Church to produce the spiritual fruit of a more just and peaceful world. Even though we have fallen far short, God continues to work with us by “cultivating the ground,” i.e. by helping us to root out all of those fears and faults that prevent us from fulfilling our mission as Church. But what is the fertilizer? What do we need to add to what we are doing? Pope Francis suggests that when we “go to the marginated” we are converted and truly flourish.
