Grafted into the olive tree - April 11, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 95* & 22; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12) 
Jer. 29:1,4-13; Rom. 11:13-24; John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10

Ten years ago, Sam and I went to visit family in north Alabama. Uncle Roger took us to see the cabin he was building in the woods. He was beaming to show us his handiwork. After touring the lovely cabin, he took us down the way to his little orchard. He told us about each tree he planted, along with his hopes for their productivity. There was one tree he was really pleased to have, for it was an apple tree with the branch of a peach tree grafted on one side and the branch of a plum tree grafted on the other side. I had never heard of such!

As I read the epistle from Romans this morning, I wonder about that fantastic tree of various fruits. As a Christian in the first century, the apostle Paul wrote about the work of grafting branches upon the rich root of the olive tree. He makes the case to the Gentiles – those who are not Jewish in their roots – that by joining into faithfulness to God through adoption, they are nourished and welcomed fully. In verse 16, we read, “if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.” Paul’s message is a reminder to me to remain grounded in God’s goodness, for it is there that God’s goodness can flow through me.

Paul’s teaching is more pointed than the lovely image of connectedness to God through Jewish or Gentile origins. He addresses the tensions between those connected by birth – those first branches of the tree – and those adopted into the faith. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the branches.” Can you imagine the dynamics at play here? The newly converted are on fire in faithfulness and elated in every way, wishing for everyone to feel God’s grace and love like this! I imagine them with an aura of dazzling white. Some of those who have known God and are struggling have broken away, because hope feels fleeting on many days when life is hard. Their aura has diminished to a dark grey dustiness.

Paul warns the Gentiles against pride or superiority over those who have fallen away. Instead of judging their Jewish siblings, Paul challenges the church in Rome to stand in humility and awe of God, who is both kind and severe. God is the one who judges and extends grace; it is not our piety that saves us. God has the power to reconnect those who have fallen away, regrafting them to the root again…for if a non-native shoot can grow on the tree, the natural branch can very easily be grafted back into their own fruit tree.

The liturgical season of Lent is nearing its end, and we prepare our hearts – humble and open – for Easter. I see the epistle today as an invitation to embrace the breadth of God’s power to heal and nourish. The joyous celebration of Christ’s resurrection is what we anticipate – and it is to God’s glory that we lift our voices. While we recount the stories of how our lives are changed through faithfulness, it is God who extends the salvific and mysterious gift of amazing grace.

With humble gratitude this day,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

There is a long history of tension between Christians and Jews. Where does this come up in your own life. How does it affect you?

Pray to God, who grafts and regrafts us, for peace in this world and a deeper sense of connectedness to the divine Reconciler.