“A STEADFAST GARDENER”     

Isaiah 55:1-9; Luke 13:1-9                   03/23/2025

Decades ago, I stepped out in faith and enrolled for a Master of Divinity at Queen’s University Theological College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t have enough money to cover my tuition, and, to make matters worse, my English wasn’t strong. Still, with nothing but faith in my heart, I said “yes” to God’s calling.

I wrestled with God in prayer for an entire month, asking, “What’s more important—my family or my ministry?” One of the hardest decisions I had to make was sending my two-year-old daughter, Hannah, to Korea with my mother for that first semester. My mother, in faith and love, was willing to support me through her prayers so that I could focus on my studies and my call to ministry. In the end, I trusted that God would be the best parent—not only to Hannah but to me as well.

Even as a little child, Hannah became one of my most cherished helpers in ministry. I wept as I watched her follow my mother at the airport, but in that moment, I felt God’s comforting presence surrounding us. To this day, I pray daily for my children to grow as faithful followers of Christ.

Looking back now, I can only say—as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than my ways, and God’s thoughts higher than mine. When I seek first God’s kingdom and do my best for my family, God truly takes care of the rest.

I still remember crossing the Thousand Islands Bridge. Every time I drove over it, I would sing hymns and gospel songs through tears, lifting prayers to God for Hannah and for my studies. There were moments when I asked, “Why am I here? What am I doing?” Yet, I clung to the belief that this was God’s path for me—and I needed to walk it faithfully.

That first semester was tough—everything was tough. I had to be persistent. I studied day and night, praying constantly, armed with a thick English-Korean dictionary. I knew I could not afford to fail. Day by day, God gave me the strength to keep moving forward. Finally, the semester came to an end.

At the final worship service in the chapel, as I sat in the pew singing the opening hymn, the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me. Tears streamed down my face. My heart overflowed with gratitude: “Thank you, God. I made it. No—YOU brought me here.” My tears did not stop during the sermon, the sacrament, or even the closing hymn. God had carried me through. It wasn’t my strength but God’s steadfast love that helped me prevail and continue my journey toward ministry. That persistent faith marked the true beginning of my ministry here in the United States.

And that brings me to today’s gospel: the parable of the fig tree.

In this story, a man plants a fig tree in his vineyard, but year after year, it bears no fruit. Frustrated, he tells the gardener, “Cut it down. Why should it waste the soil?” But the gardener replies, “Please, give it one more year. I’ll dig around it, fertilize it, and care for it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good. If not, then you can cut it down.”

Jesus told this story—and many others like it—because he felt the urgency of his mission. There was no more time to delay. The time for decision had come. As Scripture says, “Now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

As Christians, we have already made that decision. We have come to faith in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. So, the warning of judgment in this parable? It isn’t meant to frighten us. We know that we have passed from death to life through Jesus our Savior (John 5:24).

But here’s the deeper question: in this story, who are we? Are we the barren, fruitless fig tree? I don’t believe so. If we belong to Christ, we are not the unfruitful tree. We are the gardener.

Through baptism, we have been set apart for God’s work. We are marked with the cross of Christ forever. Still, let’s be honest—it’s easy to get discouraged in this role. Sometimes the work feels endless. Sometimes we wonder, “Why am I here? What am I even doing?”

Being a gardener in God’s vineyard isn’t flashy or glamorous. It demands patience, perseverance, and persistent faith. It requires digging, fertilizing, nurturing—sometimes for years—before we see any fruit.

So, who are the fig trees we tend? They are our neighbors, friends, family members, and even strangers who have yet to know the love of Jesus. They might not bear fruit yet—but that’s where we come in. We are called to nurture them, to care for them, and to show them the love of Christ.

You and I—we’ve been entrusted with this sacred task. We are the ones God has called to care for the garden. We don’t stand by and watch as others struggle. We are called to get our hands dirty—digging, pruning, feeding, and loving.

Just last week, we ordained and installed our new ruling elders. They answered God’s call to be gardeners in this church. But it’s not just their calling—it’s ours too. Each of us has promised before God to live for the Lord and for the church. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8).

And here’s the truth: this calling is not a short-term project. It is a lifelong mission. We will pour out our time, energy, and hearts into this ministry until Jesus comes again. Scripture reminds us: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

However, when we feel tired, when we feel lonely, let’s remember—we are not alone in this garden. God is with us, working beside us, guiding us. And we are surrounded by other faithful gardeners—elders, pastors, congregation members—all laboring together.

God has uniquely gifted each of us. God loves us deeply, and because of that love, we will bear good fruit. So, friends, let’s remain steadfast. Let’s be faithful gardeners in God’s vineyard. May God continue to give us strength, patience, and joy as we care for others and bring them closer to Christ. Blessed be God, day by day. Amen.