The Liturgical Home: Fig Tuesday

As we continue through Holy Week, we find ourselves in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life. After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he now moves between Bethany and the city, teaching in the Temple during the day and withdrawing again in the evenings. While in Jerusalem, Jesus taught in the Temple, confronted the religious authorities, and prepared his disciples for what was to come. Each day brings us closer to the cross.

Holy Tuesday, often called “Fig Tuesday” because of Jesus’ surprising action that day, places us in the midst of that tension. The crowds have welcomed him, but the opposition from the religious leaders is growing. The final events of his Passion are beginning to take shape. And in these days, Jesus teaches with a new clarity and urgency, calling those around him, and us, to true faith. This is a day not of outward celebration, but of inward examination.

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The Scripture Story of Holy Tuesday

The events of Holy Tuesday are recorded across several passages, including Matthew 21:18–22 and Mark 11:12–14, 20–25.

Early in the morning, as Jesus returns to Jerusalem from Bethany, he becomes hungry. He approaches a fig tree, hoping to find fruit. Seeing that the tree has none, he curses it. By the following day, the tree has withered.

At first, this moment can seem surprising, since the Gospel writers say it was not the season for figs to be in fruit. But we quickly find out that the incident is not simply about the tree. The fig tree becomes a living parable. Though full of leaves, it bears no fruit. In this, Jesus reveals the danger of outward appearance without inward faith, a life that seems full but is not truly rooted in God.

And yet, he does not leave the moment there. When the disciples later notice that the tree has withered, Jesus turns their attention to faith, telling them to 

“Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 

Mark 11:22-25

The fig tree is a lesson not only in the importance of bearing fruit, but also in the nature of true faith. Jesus uses this moment to teach his disciples about prayer, trust, and belief. What begins as a warning becomes an invitation, not only to bear fruit, but to live with a deep and abiding trust in God.

After the lesson of the fig tree, Jesus enters Jerusalem and continues teaching in the Temple, engaging directly with the religious leaders. He tells the Parable of the Two Sons, reminding us that obedience is not found in words alone, but in action. He shares the Parable of the Tenants, pointing to the rejection of God’s messengers and, ultimately, of his Son. And in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, he reveals both the generosity of God’s invitation and the seriousness of our response.

Again and again, the lesson is set before us: it is not just what we say that is important, but how we live.

The Meaning of Fig Tuesday

Holy Tuesday does not carry the same weight or visibility as the days that follow, and yet it quietly prepares us for them. Before we enter into the sorrow of betrayal and the solemnity of the cross, we are first asked to look inward. This day does not call for grand gestures, but for honest reflection.

The fig tree stands as a reminder that faith is meant to be living and fruitful, not merely outward, but deeply rooted in God. At the same time, Jesus’s words to his disciples remind us that this kind of life flows from trust, faith, and deep dependence on God.

It is a day to pause and consider:

• Are we bearing fruit?
• Is our faith active and alive?
• Are we trusting God, or only appearing to?

Ways to Observe Holy Tuesday

• Read Matthew 21:18–22 and Mark 11:12–14, 20–25. Take time to read the account of the fig tree. Sit with it. Consider what it reveals about the kind of faith Christ desires.
• Continue your spring cleaning. Many homes historically continued their preparations during Holy Week. As you clean, let it be a quiet outward reflection of an inward work.
• Eat something with figs. A simple and tangible way to mark the day, eat something with figs: fig preserves, fresh figs, or even fig newtons. (A simple and delicious recipe for Fig Bars is at the bottom of the post.)
• Pause for reflection. Take a few moments in the quiet of the day to ask: Where is God calling me to deeper faithfulness?

Homemade Fig Bars 

For the Fig Filling:

• 24 small to medium fresh figs, quartered
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Crust:

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Make the fresh fig filling. Combine figs, brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, and vanilla extract in a medium heavy-bottom saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the figs release their juices and the juices come to a slow boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 45 minutes, occasionally stirring and breaking up larger pieces with the back of a wooden spoon. Remove the filling from the heat and cool. For a smoother texture, puree with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor.
2. Make the crust. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil, extending it over the sides, then spray it with cooking spray. In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add in the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine; no streaks of flour should remain. The mixture will be quite thick, and it may be easiest to mix with your hands.
3. Assemble the fig bars. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the oat mixture. Press the rest into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the bottom of a glass to push the dough into a solid, flat layer. Spoon the jam over the bottom crust and spread evenly with a knife. Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the layer of jam.
4. Bake the fig bars. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the jam is bubbling and the top crumble is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely. To serve, lift the entire layer of jam bars from the pan using the aluminum foil as a handle. Slice into bars and serve.

Notes

1. Make sure to use old-fashioned (also known as rolled oats), not instant or quick oats, for the crust.
2. Store-bought fig jam can be substituted for homemade fig jam.
3. Homemade fig bars can be stored at room temperature for 3 days, refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Recipe from Bunsen Burner Bakery.

Image: photo by Gfed from Getty Images Signature, courtesy of Canva. Digitally edited by Jacob Davis.

Author

Ashley Tumlin Wallace

Ashley Tumlin Wallace, the author of the Liturgical Home series of books and articles at Anglican Compass, is a homeschooling mom of four and the wife of an Anglican priest. She and her family live in the panhandle of Florida.

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