Homily For Rogation Sunday (Easter V) 2025
Our collect for today says, “O LORD, from whom all good things do come: Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We pray, we acknowledge that it is from the Lord that all good things do come. In our present circumstances, we seem to be able to control most of the things around us. Technology has convinced us that we are the providers of all good things. It is from our efforts, our work that we have what we need, what we want. Earlier generations, not that many removed from the present, knew that they couldn’t control the weather, that they were needy creatures who needed God’s “merciful guiding”. This is particularly true when most people lived in villages and farms/ranches.
Rogation Sunday coincided generally with the early stages of crop growth - a time when the plants were very vulnerable. In agrarian societies, this was a make or break point. If the crops flourished, there would be abundance; if the crops failed, many would suffer famine. They were closer to the earth and knew that they needed divine protection, divine help. Rogare means to ask, and it was in this spirit of asking - rogare - rogation that three days between Rogation Sunday and Ascension were set aside for prayers for a fruitful harvest.
Rogation Days developed into a popular festival, celebrating the arrival of spring and serving other purposes, as well. In some parishes, the procession took more than one day and the whole business became an occasion for several days of picnics and revels of all sorts, particularly among those who trooped along at the fringes of the religious aspects of the procession. The route of the walk was around the boundaries of the parish, which was a civil as well as a religious unit.
Thus, the processions were useful in teaching people, particularly the young, their parish boundaries. Known as “beating the bounds,” the processions customarily stopped at boundary marks and other significant landmarks of the parish, such as a venerable tree, or a great rock, or perhaps a pond. The priest would read the Gospel and perhaps affix a cross to the landmark. Then the boys of the parish would suffer some indignity intended to help them remember the spot. Boys were bumped about against rocks and trees, thrown into the water, held upside-down over fences, thrown into bramble patches, or beaten with willow wands- and then given a treat in compensation. In later times, the marchers beat the boundary marker with the willow wands, beating the bounds, rather than the boys.
The reminder of boundaries had another important impact on communal life. In an oft quoted poem by the 20th century American Robert Frost, the poet’s neighbor asserts that “good fences make good neighbors.” Boundaries are often very important in relationships. As members of parishes beat the bounds, they would often encounter obstructions and violations of boundaries. The annual beating of the bounds provided an opportunity to resolve boundary issues. It also led to the tradition of seeking reconciliation in personal relationships, during Rogationtide. The sharing of a specially brewed ale, called Ganging Beer, “Beating the Bounds” and a mysterious pastry, called Rammalation Biscuits, (Claverton, 1999) served at the end of the walk was a good way of sealing the reconciliation.
So, for our ancestors, these days were a mixture of petition and celebration; times of remembrance, communal reconciliation and reaffirmation of one’s place in one’s parish within Christ’s holy Church.
The Gospel focuses on asking, praying to the Father. It continues the teaching from the Upper Room Discourse of John Chapter 16. For the past few Sundays we have been in this teaching session from Jesus right before His crucifixion. Even as he is preparing to destroy sin and death through the crucifixion, Our Lord makes promises, speaks about the resurrection life that will come from his own resurrection on Easter. Notice in our Gospel for today the prevalence of the term “ask” - Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Again, Jesus says, “Ask in my name”. Jesus instructs his followers to pray - to ask God the Father in His name. Now, I have been here long enough that many of you know what asking in Jesus name means.
It’s not simply to add “in Jesus name” to the end of a request. Rather, it is to ask according to the character, the person of Jesus - according to who he is and what he has done. For the name of a person in the ancient world, communicated who he or she was, it revealed a character, a way of living life. To ask then, in Jesus name, is to make a request that aligns with who Jesus is. It is to pray for something that Jesus, too, would ask God the Father for: an alignment of purpose. What does Jesus desire for people? What did Jesus' death and resurrection make possible? Our Lord says to ask in his name, according to his purposes and we can be assured that God will answer. For he is the Father, not a cosmic, distant unyielding force of nature. He loves his children and wants good things for them and wants them to ask, to pray for his help. God the Father loves us, because He adores God the Son and all who look to Jesus for salvation are loved by Him.
Also notice that Jesus says to pray so that our joy may be full. Joy comes from praying and knowing that God hears you - your request will be answered in a manner that will lead you further into the paths of righteousness, will lead us to deeper trust, and love of God. The purpose of communication with God is not the receipt of things as though God was a heavenly vending machine. Instead, prayer reflects our loving dependence and joy in the relationship with God the Father purchased through the Son’s obedience. Prayer is to lead us to communion with Him. All these things, says our Gospel, Jesus has spoken unto us, that in Him we might have peace. In contrast, in this world we will have tribulation, struggle, conflict but Our Lord tells us - be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The heart of Rogation Sunday is to plead, to pray. Not to wrench some small morsel of goodness from the unyielding hand of God - that is what Satan would like us to believe. It is instead asking so that we might have joy, delight in the God who loves us and provides richly for his children.
In need, in tribulation, we are of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world. I am struck by the present tense of Our Lord’s words. On the eve of his crucifixion with pain and betrayal before him - he declares that He has already overcome, for the outcome is determined. It is the path that Jesus chose, it was the fullness of time for redemption and he was a King, a victor on that cross. There was never any doubt as to the outcome. Jesus says, “I have overcome the world.” In doing so, He calls us to pray to the Father so that our joy may be full - that we might be of good cheer. Jesus calls us, in the words of Hebrews Chapter 12 - to look unto Him - the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down now at the right hand of the throne of God.” We have joy, we have hope because we are empowered by God to a confident assurance that Jesus Christ has overcome the world. He is Christus Victor - Christ the Victor.
He promises us something better than pleasant circumstances, he promises his glorious, joyful presence in all things. Let us hear these truths and cherish them in our hearts.
My brother and sisters, what troubles you this morning? What are you trying to accomplish on your own strength that frustrates you? Are you attempting to build a kingdom of your own? Is the burden of your labor unbearable? I have good news for you -the one who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders commands us to enter into his rest. Ask God to give you those things that are eternally good for you. Plead with him for all that concerns you. Cast aside your self-will and the siren call of constructing your own kingdom, where you are absolute ruler and absolute power. Embrace the love of God that provides all you need. Not the fleeting pleasures of our desires but truly good things that lead to eternal life. Pray, ask, so that your joy may be full. Ask in Jesus name for the salvation of your neighbors, family, and friends, even your enemies.
Plead with God for your transformation into the character of Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that need to be given to God for his healing and restoration. We ask in obedience to Jesus. We ask knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us and we pray because of the promise that our Lord has overcome and he is working his purposes for us in the present. Remember the words of the Gospel: “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” “These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace.” and “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Amen.