Sermon On The Fruits & Delights Of Summer

Henry Theodore Tuckerman, an American writer and essayist once remarked: “To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of those things which it is far better to enjoy, than to attempt to fully understand.” Song of Solomon 2:12 reminds us: “The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”

As the welcome signs of spring transmogrify into summer, the flowers alter their appearance into a new delight. The buds that were once so small and infantile have ripened into full growth and display their exotic blooms. The all-encompassing and individualistic beauty of each are slowly revealed and combined into a new dazzling array of spectacular color and splendor. The earth comes into new life, and a new season takes its first breath, while the individual fragrances of each blossom increase with maturity and together emit a wonderful variety of odors that captivate the hearts and souls of passers-by. Spring growth has eventually reached its climax with perfection and wonderment.

Summer is also renowned as a season for fruit. The trees, plants and shrubs provide an abundance of tasty and enjoyable flavors to tempt most palettes. In the UK and Mediterranean countries, these can include such delights as Cherries, Grapes, Blackberries, Watermelons, Strawberries, Peaches, Raspberries, and Figs to name but a few.

The benefits and pleasures that everyone enjoys during the fruitful summer months could be likened to the coming of the Son of Man. How much pleasure and nourishment did He bring? Luke 21: 25-33 reminds us: “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

The fig tree is considered in the Hebrew Bible as the third tree to be mentioned after the initial tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It could be said, that like the expected beneficial days of summer, and the coming of Jesus, a fig tree also represents goodness. Its fruit will certainly nourish and satisfy the hungry and, in addition, may provide useful health benefits. It has been suggested that if a fig tree, or its fruit, feature in a person’s dreams, then one is about to enter a period of growth and prosperity. The essential components of a fig tree are said to symbolically represent certain elements of real life. The roots have been purported to possibly relate to the past, the trunk as the present, and the branches, the future. However, like many things in life, everything is not always as it is hoped. Mark 11:12-14 gives a controversial account of Jesus not being pleased when He, in search of sustenance, finds no fruit on a fig tree. He resorts to placing a curse on His fruitless find. The passage, in question, reminds us: “On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.”

Fig trees and their fruit feature in abundance in stories in the Bible, mythology and folklore. Its renowned fruit is reputed to be one of the most loved superfoods in Greek history and remains a staple ingredient in many Mediterranean diets. Whether they be fact or fiction, fig trees can be considered important in relevance to certain quoted incidents. It is reputed that Adam and Eve used fig tree leaves to cover their modesty, the roots of another fig tree supposedly saved the twin babies Romulus and Remus from drowning. Sylvia Plath, an American poet and novelist once remarked: “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked.