Rooted and Built up
Colossians 2:6-7
6
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives
[
a
]
in him,
7
rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
There is nothing more glorious than a freshly cut Christmas tree. And yet, like anything cut from its roots, there is no amount of water that can keep the fresh cut tree vibrant. At some point the tree shows signs of death and is stripped of its lights and laid unceremoniously outside for disposal. A sharp contrast to its former rooted self.
The author of Colossians is writing in response to the rootlessness of false teaching by emphasizing the vibrant faith of those “rooted and built up in him.” The writer begins with Jesus, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,” and it is Jesus who symbolizes the good soil in which our faith is planted. The result of such a rich planting is deep rootedness and the gift of continued life.
It is a simple metaphor reminding us of our connection in Christ Jesus with an added reminder that this lesson is one we already know. How do we know? Being rooted in Jesus means knowing the story of faith and tradition. The writer of Colossians reminds us that we were once taught, past tense, what it means to follow Jesus and such teaching is evident in our living. For this, we are “abounding in thanksgiving.” It is lesson in hindsight, giving thanks for our formation and those who taught us the story of faith.
I can remember walking home from vacation bible school with my grandmother. She would buy me a box of animal crackers that looked like a circus car and we would walk home talking about the morning lesson, rehearsing memorized scripture verses, and retelling favorite Bible stories. Sunday school teachers built upon that foundation with more stories, crafts, and dramas. In college I took Old and New Testament with favorite professors and then in seminary dug deep into scripture, tradition, and theology. Each teacher took seriously their call to impart some bit of wisdom so that I might grow in my understanding and love of Jesus.
Today, I am thankful that my faith is both rooted and growing, nurtured through the years by those called to teach and guided by a tradition which emphasizes deep learning and faithful action. In looking back, who taught you the story of faith and rooted you in a love for God? And looking forward, who will you teach and guide as we continue to live in the one who calls us, Christ Jesus the Lord?
