I don’t quite get the message from the Just Stop Oil people who recently threw soup on Vincent’s famous painting Sunflowers. I could understand if they glued their hands to a petrol bowser, but to vandalize an innocent and beloved piece of art is a mystery to me. (Perhaps it was a protest against the use of sunflower oil in kitchens across the world, instead of olive or canola or peanut oil?)

Some Bible commentators have expressed a similar frustration with Jesus’ action in cursing the fig tree. The incident occurred during Jesus’ short journey from Bethany to Jerusalem in the early part of Holy Week, and the occasion was his search for breakfast. The tree served up nothing but green leaves, and Jesus spoke some hard words to it, resulting in its rapid withering. Was that an act of vandalism? Not likely. (And was this the first-time during Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem that he had found that very tree unresponsive?)

The fig tree was a well-known symbol for Israel – something meant to be alive and green and fruitful in season, an honour to its Maker, and a blessing to others. But what Jesus found when he entered the temple and searched among the leaves of hearts and minds and souls was anything but honouring and fruitful. And so like the tree, the temple would wither. And the warning stands for all who think it acceptable to merely present to God an annual show of leaves.