Holy Martyr Aquilina (286-305). Holy Triphillius, Bishop of Leucosia (Nicosia) on Cyprus (343). Venerable Father Anthony of Padua.
Apostles’ Fast.
Romans 11:13-24. Matthew 11:27-30.
Read Romans 11:13-24
St. Paul addresses the Gentile converts to Christianity living in Rome, evoking the image of an olive tree. He illustrates that the Gentiles were like branches that were cut off of a wild olive tree and grafted into a cultivated olive tree. They were grafted in because of their faith, but they must be diligent to continue in God’s goodness lest they be cut off (Rom. 11:22). The Jews originally belonged to the holy, cultivated olive tree, but those who were cut off because of their disbelief can be grafted back in again by God if they do not continue in unbelief (Rom. 11:23).
Jesus also provides an image of a vine and branches. He says: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (Jn. 15:5-6). Continuing this imagery of a vine and branches, in St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s second mystagogical catechesis, he tells the newly-baptized that, having been anointed with exorcised oil right before their baptism, they were cut from the wild olive and grafted into the true olive which is Christ, sharing in Christ’s richness.
Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Unless we are grafted in to Christ, we cannot share in His life. A branch cut off from a vine will wither and die, but if we are grafted into the vine, we can flourish and produce much fruit. Let us remember that it is by our faith in Christ that we have been grafted into the cultivated olive tree as members of the Church, and let’s never forget to give thanks to God for this gift.