1 Peter 4 : 7-13 / Mark 11 : 11-26
Today's gospel portrayal of Jesus is not one that we like to see.
In fact, cursing fig trees and being physically violent won't draw much admiration from others.
But the beginning of Chapter 11 of the gospel of Mark has it that Jesus just entered Jerusalem and soon He will face His passion.
So the Jesus in today's gospel was anxious.
He was anxious because He could see His end coming but His message about the Kingdom has not sunk into the minds and hearts of the people.
His message did not seem to bear fruit.
So His actions in today's gospel are like alarm-bells in the morning, sharp warnings to those who are aware of His message but yet do not heed it.
Even for us, the areas of conversion in our lives must begin, and begin now!
We can't wait for tomorrow because for all we know, tomorrow might never come for some of us.
Even the 1st reading reminds us that everything will soon come to an end, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind.
If the Lord ask us now to show His an account of our lives, do we have fruits to show Him?
The 1st reading tells us that each of us has received a special grace.
May we be good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, and bear fruits of love and peace, and joy and forgiveness.