Reading: The Olive Tree

Romans 11:17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Mythology has it that Athena, the great goddess, offered the good people of Athens the olive tree as her gift that would make their lives better.  At the same time, Poseidon, the god of the seas, offered Athens the ocean as a safe place for their ships.  Whomever the Athenians chose by a democratic vote would be the patron God of the city.  They chose the olive and Athena.  The curious thing about that choice is that the people of Athens chose their God!  It was the first instance of what in recent eras came to be known as humanism—the teaching that humanity is at the top of the universe’s hierarchy of authority.  The olive tree which is ubiquitous around Greece, as in the photo accompanying this blurb, has come to symbolize the power of people to choose their own gods and their own destiny.

The Christian scriptures have a different take on who is authoritative.  In the quote from the letter of Paul to the Romans, it is quite clear who is in charge.  It is God who is in charge of the destiny of humanity.  God acts in such a way as to create a family he calls his own, but he does it one person at a time.  Paul describes the action of God as taking branches and pruning them away or grafting them in to the one tree that is his family.

The mystery that surrounds all of this, as Paul makes it clear, is that we affect what happens to us as we believe and stand or as we become arrogant and are pruned away.  Still, we have to admit that God is the one who is working in the tree.  He is the one with the tools which he uses for grafting or for pruning.  He is the one who makes the decisions regarding any particular branch.  He is aware of all that is happening in our lives and he is seeking fruit from us.

The olive tree takes about eight years from seedling to first harvest, but then can produce for hundreds of years with the proper care.  I like to think that Paul is saying when we humbly remain in the tree that is Jesus, we will produce fruit far beyond our own lifetimes.  As the tree grows and develops, the strength of the previous branches is given to the new growth.  Just think, I am strong today because the Apostle Paul was faithful in his day.  What might God do with our faith hundreds of years from now?