As we learn more about the universe and view videos and photos of its wide expanse, we continue to be amazed by the realization that we are all interconnected and an integral part of the whole. Today’s readings are just right for us in these times as we struggle with the polarization and violence in our society threatening that interconnection.  

The passage from Ephesians is a good reminder for us believers that we are one in Christ and invited to assume our adult roles in the community as we grow and mature in the faith. Living as members of the Body of Christ, we have an impact on one another and are responsible for one another’s connection to that Body. By our loving acts of compassion, we give hope to all who seek unity and relationship. 

In the Lucan narrative, the gardener refuses to give up on the fig tree that has not produced fruit in three years, begging the owner to let him cultivate the soil around it and give it more time. Jesus, our gardener, provides the nourishment and care we need along the way, so that we may live our lives fully as members of that one Body, inviting all to recognize their unique place in the whole. Jesus never fails us, always giving us yet one more chance to accept the love of God that he embodies—a love that transforms and yields mature fruit for the flourishing of the whole garden.