Romans 11:17-18; Galatians 5:22–23

Impulses 1 and 2

Kornelia Schauf / Elke von Schlichting

Impulse 1 (Kornelia Schauf)

Romans 11:17-18

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

Dear congregation, 

The synod of our church, NElCSA, has chosen as its synod theme: 

‘Rooted and Reformed.’ Nicky Wenhold has developed a logo for this theme.

It is the image that is on our PowerPoint today.

A tree whose branches look like a cross, like outstretched arms. 

The theme takes up an old Latin phrase that is often quoted: ‘Ecclesia semper reformanda est’! This sounds very clever in Latin and means: The church remains in need of reformation.

Because the phrase is in Latin, it is assumed that it dates back to the Middle Ages and is often attributed to Luther. However, this is not so easy to prove.

The sentence is also incorrectly quoted as follows: or rather: it is actually a banality that sounds a little cleverer in Latin: Of course, every church and every parish is embedded in the changing times and there will always be changes. 

But the sentence is slightly different: ‘ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Die’ (the reformed church must be constantly reformed according to the word of God)

That sounds different: because here it is no longer simply a matter of change, which is self-evident: for example, that we as a church use computers and no longer write with quills. That too must be and will be well thought out and considered. Of course, we ask: how modern and contemporary can, should, must a parish be? But in a sense, it goes without saying that it must move with the times.

The phrase ‘ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Die’ (the reformed church must be continually reformed according to the word of God) is an important part of this. ‘According to the word of God!’

What is special and much more interesting is that Scripture is continually interpreted and that new insights gained from reading the Bible also bring about changes in churches and congregations.

The essential thing remains the study of Scripture.

This brings us to the roots that the synod is asking about. But these roots are like the real roots of a real tree: living roots. They are alive. The word of God lives and is alive in the Bible. But in order for the roots to remain the source of strength for the tree, they must also be cared for: not dug up, but watered.

The wild olive branch that was grafted into the olive tree – that is us, Christians. We have received a share in the root and sap of the olive tree.

Unfortunately, this was later almost always interpreted against Judaism. For a long time, Christians claimed: ‘We are the ones through whom the old tree was grafted!’

This greatly distorts the meaning of this passage: the point here is that Christians have their vitality, their strength and their origins in Judaism. Recognising this is a source of strength.

The Scriptures must and should be interpreted in order to retain their power – otherwise they become mere words.

There is an interesting passage in the Epistle to the Romans that also uses the image of the tree and its roots. 

I read: 

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 

18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

It is a blessing, a privilege, a wonderful gift that our faith is supported by such deep, healthy and ancient roots.

It is wonderful when we as Christians recognise and acknowledge this. Then we do not confuse our strength with God's strength.

‘Do not boast against the branches!’ ‘You do not support the root, but the root supports you!’

We Christians are neither a better version of Judaism nor its refinement. On the contrary, we Christians have been given a share. It is a gift, a legacy, that we are included in these ancient stories.

Let us read the entire Holy Scriptures with awe and respect, with love and gratitude, and perceive them as our source of strength. 

Amen 

Impulse 2 (Elke von Schlichting)

Galatians 5:22–23

Summer is just around the corner, bringing with it colourful flowers, buzzing insects, wonderfully warm weather and many other joys, big and small – and for me personally, a colourful and varied fruit salad is one of them. A good fruit salad contains many different fruits – sweet, sour, soft, crunchy and colourful. Each fruit is good on its own – but only when combined do they create something special, beautiful and beneficial.

Our community is also like a fruit salad: take a look around, a colourful mix of young and old, tall and short, quiet and energetic. There are educated and practical people, employees and job seekers, self-employed and students, pensioners and successful professionals – everyone belongs. God created us differently – with a wealth of different personalities and gifts, stories and opinions. And yet we belong together – we are all one body in and through Christ.

And this diversity among our parishioners makes our parish not only listeners at Sunday services, but also a living instrument of God for this world.  

But how does such a colourful, juicy fruit salad stay alive without individual fruits being crushed or becoming mushy? How do we ensure that diversity does not lead to chaos or division?

The answer is short and simple: through the Spirit of God, the Spirit who works in us here and now – and at all times.

We heard about this Spirit today in the New Testament reading:

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’

(Galatians 5:22 and 23)

The fruit on trees does not grow on its own – it needs deep roots, a strong trunk, towering branches and delicate blossoms in order to bear fruit. And it is very important to understand that the fruits of the Spirit do not simply grow out of ourselves. They are not the result of effort or self-optimisation. They are gifts of the Spirit who lives and works in us – if we allow it.

When each individual in our church asks not only, ‘What can I get?’ but also, ‘What can I give?’ or when we give each other space instead of overlapping, and serve each other instead of comparing ourselves, then our diversity becomes a living unity.  Then our community will become a fruit salad of the Spirit: love and joy, peace and patience, kindness and goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

And with that, something becomes visible in this world: hope. Hope not as a vague, beautiful idea, but as lived hope that lets others feel: something is different here. Christ is at work here. Not through power or volume, but through lived fruit.

So, let us ask ourselves again and again: What fruit can the Spirit of God grow in me today? What fruit do I bring to this ‘church salad’?

For in this diversity – sustained by the Spirit – lies the power to preserve hope and shape the world. This diverse unity is a powerful witness in a world often marked by division, competition and mistrust.

No, the Church lives a different reality: community despite differences. Cohesion in Christ.

One body, one Spirit – many fruits and even more hope. And that is precisely where hope lies.

For when people in all their diversity believe, love, serve and celebrate together –

then Christ becomes visible.

Then hope is preserved.

Then the world is changed. 

Just as a fruit salad brings joy, gives strength and nourishes life, so too should our life as a community, as sisters and brothers, be one body bearing the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, a small foretaste of the kingdom of God: inviting and genuine. 

Amen.