Daily Worship

Wild Shoots!

Jane Denniston April 26, 2024 7 1
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Image credit: Unsplash
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Romans 11: 16-18 (NRSVA)

16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

17 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, 18 do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.

As the wild olive shoots grafted onto the root of Israel, we haven’t taken over from the original vine but still we have a place and are needed. The root supports us, but our wildness can be a gift to the olive tree, enriching it to bear even more fruit.

Do you ever consider yourself to be wild? What would it mean if you were? Are you a rule keeper or a rule breaker? Or maybe just a rule bender. What rules are meant to be kept and which ones can be broken? What would Jesus do?

As branches grafted into the vine there are two responses we can make: we can give thanks and praise for the life we have been given, but we can also look for ways to offer the gifts we bring, gifts of new life and a different perspective to the old vine.

However, the Church has been in existence for so many years that we have lost the life and vigour that we had when we began. Facing the challenges of the day, what new wild life can we bring to refresh the vine? What gifts do we have that might make a difference? What rules and regulations are outdated and life-stifling rather than life-giving? Taking our place in the vine, what new life and rich fruit might spring from us?

 

Prayer:

 

Lord, we give you thanks and praise

for the new life we have found in you.

We give you thanks and praise

for the privilege of being part of the vine.

Help us to take our place and know our part

in enriching the life of the vine

that it may grow and bear much fruit

for the sustenance of this world, Amen.