The image of the barren fig tree evokes feelings of loss, but also feelings of hope. The fig tree represents all those who are yet to repent so that they may bear fruit, and the gardener personified as hope in his willingness and patience to help the tree reproduce fruit is comforting. He calms, restores and leads each one of us, in a similar way that the divine shepherd peacefully leads and lovingly cares for us, and all the time giving us life.
Paul too speaks of life as the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. This same Spirit gave life to the fig tree and strength to those in care of the shepherd who were led beyond fear. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life, and, as Pope Benedict XVI articulated, ‘flows deep within us, like an underground river which nourishes our soul and draws us ever nearer to the source of our true life, which is Christ.’
--From Internet
天主聖三，我們感謝你將教宗若望保祿二世，賜給教會，使他彰顯天父的慈愛、基督十字架的光榮，及聖神愛的光輝。他完全信賴你的無限仁慈，及聖母瑪利亞慈母般的轉求。他給予我們耶穌善牧的生動肖像，並為我們指出成聖是基督信徒日常生活的必然本分，又是通往與你永恆共融的道路。請你因教宗若望保祿二世的轉求，依照你的旨意，賜給我們所需的恩寵。願他早日被列入諸聖的名冊。亞孟。
