THE BANYAN TREE
The Banyan is native to India, but they can be found in the United States and other parts of the world, especially Asia. It grows as a young tree and then, as it gets larger, the heavy limbs put forth roots which drop to the ground to form a secondary trunk to support the large limbs. Step under an old Banyan tree, and you are stepping into what looks like a mini-forest. They can grow, therefore, to an absolutely enormous size, and have a long life span. If you look you can see all of the secondary trunks supporting the older, heavy limbs. I saw a large area under which people could gather, as indeed they do in many Asian communities, to discuss issues and concerns of a village. And I saw a metaphor for the church.
This sermon, then, is a sermon about the nature of the church. A large host trunk, many long, large and heavy limbs extending in all directions, supporting trunks and root systems, a huge shaded area where people could gather in community, find shelter from the storm, or rest from their labors.
(From a sermon by Ryan Napalo, The Banyan Tree, 5/10/2012)
