What does it mean to be made in the image of God? In reflecting on this idea, I have always connected the idea of having a soul as being made in His Image. But something Father Francis said today in his homily made me think about this in a new way — the idea that everyone has at least a little goodness in them — at least an “iota” of good since we are all made in the image of God. But how to grow that “iota”? When we use our free will to choose God and follow Him, that is when the goodness has the opportunity to grow within us so that we can be the tree that bears good fruit! I think especially about the adjective good. We all grow in some fashion but what do we grow into? The Gospels describe a couple of alternatives to the tree that bears good fruit — some trees are barren since they do not bear fruit at all and some diseased trees bear bad fruit — either of these is the result of a life lived selfishly and away from God. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus as the gardener who steps in to intervene when the owner of the fig tree, God the Father, finds the tree has not borne any fruit. Jesus offers to “cultivate” the ground and “fertilize” it so that it can bear fruit in the future and be saved from the condemnation of being cut down. In other words, Jesus is offering to provide the essential nutrients and soil conditioning that I need to grow fruit because he wants to save me! And in order to actually benefit from this salvific “soil prep,” I need to start by having a spirit of repentance — I need to recognize my sinfulness and failures even if it consists of the same sins that I have committed a hundred times before — such as my selfish complaining when things don’t go my way, or my chastising my husband or my boys for the very things I am guilty of myself! This season of Lent, I pray that I will remember that I can’t bear the fruit that God wants to see in me and fully become the image that He created me to be, if I ignore those areas of my life — those sinful habits and vices — that need the fertilizer of forgiveness. Lord, help me to choose repentance each and every day!