[read time: ~5 min | word count 1,133]
Good morning, everyone!
It’s Monday of Holy Week. Traditionally referred to as Fig Monday. We’ll get into that!
Welcome back to Saintly CEO. We’re on a mission to bring you a bit of tactical advice or encouragement each Monday to start your week off well.
Today, I’m going to keep things very brief given my current schedule and my desire for you to have only one thing to focus on this week as we wrap up Lent.
First, some quick announcements.
We’re hosting a dinner in Dallas on April 12th. Apply to attend
If you’re in central Wisconsin (Wausau area), join the last Saturday meetup
We might be hosting a meetup in Columbus, OH soon - reach out if interested
Raj Bhakta is speaking at a Fides event on Thursday April 9th in NYC. Register to attend (CF is co-sponsoring)
Sponsors! We need some! Reach out admin@catholicfounders.com
Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today
We're building the largest network of Catholic biz owners in the world.
It's for any Catholic biz owner who believes they are called to be an instrument of God's will in the world.
Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.
Curious? --> "What is the Catholic Founders Guild"
Fig Trees and Entrepreneurs
Okay, let’s start with why today is called Fig Monday. It’s quite simple. On this day, certain liturgical traditions have the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree that had no fruit (despite it not being the season for figs), here it is. Matthew 21: 18-22
[18] In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. [19] And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. [20] When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” [21] Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. [22] Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”
A lot has been said about what this message means for us generally as followers of Christ. But let’s focus on what it means for entrepreneurs.
The key elements to focus on are. (1) The tree had leafs on it but no fruit (alive but no fruit). (2) The consequences of being fruitless was to wither and die in the end despite a long life of growth to produce leafs. (3) We can do the same works if we have genuine faith.
As entrepreneurs, we have been given a lot of skills. We have the willingness to take risk, the capacity to work hard, and the creative ability to create things of value.
We are a tree growing and providing shade with our leafs. But the species of tree that we are is called to bear a multitude of fruit. Think back to the parable of the good and faithful steward. His dedicated work returned 5 additional talents to the 5 he had been given (Matt. 25:14-30). There is also the example of the seed that fell on good ground and produced up to one hundred fold wheat (Matt. 13:8).
Are we not exceedingly blessed by our work ethic, ability to manage and motivate people, our ability to sell, the list goes on.
We must ask ourselves, what is the fruit we are yielding. The fruit cannot be simply financial. The true fruit we are called to yield is eternal fruit that brings others to God. So what are we doing?
Are people drawn to Catholocism because of our actions? Are we leaving bread crumbs for people to pick up along the way to give them a little taste of the Faith?
For any of this to be possible, we need to recognize the gifts we were given, and we need to nourish the seeds of faith in our hearts. Giving sufficient water and sunlight through prayer, the sacraments, scripture, and contemplation.
St. Thomas Aquinas comments further on the example of the fig tree, taken from this passage and from the parable of the fig tree in Luke (13:6-9). He says (paraphrased), the fig tree is outwardly promising (leafy) through profession of faith and law, yet inwardly unfruitful in charity and good works, facing divine judgment after a period of merciful patience.
On one hand you have the judgement side of that to avoid. On the other hand, consider how motivating it can be for us to lean into what we already know and profess about the faith. Allowing it to produce a great amount of fruit in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Remember, even if you’re just starting out as an entrepreneur and don’t have that many employees, you will likely have many people reporting to you one day. If you stick with it, and apply virtue to how you run your business, you are likely to continue growing. As you grow, will those fundamental pillars be in place allowing you to be a truly positive influence on all of those around you. Employees and customers alike?
I know we’ve discussed this idea in some way shape or form but this matters. This isn’t just a nice to have option we can pursue. God specifically gave us these skills to help carry out His will in the world. Will you view it as a weight on your shoulders, or will you see this as the opportunity to go on the adventure of a lifetime?
Will you see it as a way to gain financial success and notoriety, or will you see it as an opportunity to bring hundreds, even thousands along with you on this journey home; this journey to heaven?
Will you be barren and cursed or will you bear fruit and be blessed?
God Bless & Happy Building
~Silas Mähner
Hire Catholic Offshore Talent
We help you find vetted Catholic offshore talent to help your business grow.
$500 upon hire and $500 if you're still happy in 30 days.
Email us your needs -> hire in days -> admin@catholicfounders.com Don’t forget about The Ultimate Catholic Founders Resource Guide. Bookmark for future reference.
How did we do? Reply with 1 (Great 😄), 2 (Mid 🫤), or 3 (Needs Work ☹️)