We all struggle with different realities every day. Life throws so many things
our way that, we can get so caught up with our struggles, that we spend so
much time and energy worrying and stressing over them.

The parable today, tells us that the owner of a vineyard, wanted to cut down one of his tree because, this one tree didn’t bear fruit. Yet, the man who looked after the vineyard, thought differently.
He told the owner that he would get to the
root of the problem, by caring for and nurturing the tree.
It is from the root that things begin to grow.

We all know that if we have a toothache - that more often than not, the problem is with the root. And it’s similar with the problems we encounter in life. Unless we too get to the root of the issue or the problem, we will always have, or be in a certain amount of pain.

We have to get to the root of the problem, name it and tame it, before we
can move on and before we can begin to bear fruit in our lives.
During Lent, we have time to prune the parts of our lives that need pruning, so that we can throw away the ‘bad bits’ that inhibit our growth. Like Spring, Lent is about growing and bearing fruit.

God of new beginnings, you are the ever-patient gardener who nurtures our cracking and dried branches in the water of your love. Bind up our broken spirits in your grace and hope; nourish us by your grace and sustain us in your love that we may realize the harvest of your justice and peace in our lives.
(from: Not by Bread Alone 2010)