Living Rogation: Rogation Sunday 2025 (John 14:21-29)

May 25, 2025, Year C, Rogation Sunday, Eastertide

John 14:21–29, Psalm 67, Joel 2:21–27

Good morning. Today is Rogation Sunday. The term "Rogation" derives from the Latin rogare (pronounced roh-GAH-reh), meaning "to ask" or "to beseech." In the Anglican tradition, Rogation Days were historically tied to agricultural life, with processions through fields to pray for bountiful harvests and divine protection. It is a time to thank God for creation, his provision, and ask that God would bless and protect the land and our labor. Rooted in the days before Ascension, Rogationtide, today through Wednesday, calls us to pray with humility, to trust in God's faithfulness, and to steward his gifts with care.

While most of us are not farmers, and most are retired from labor, the spirit of Rogationtide still speaks to our lives. All of our Scriptures today invite us to live in this spirit. Just as farmers face uncertainty and rely on God's grace, we navigate life's trials, trusting in the one who abides with us. Let us explore all of these texts, drawing parallels between farmers' lives and our own, primarily from our Gospel reading, John 14:21–29.

Starting in John 14:21, Jesus speaks to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion, offering words that echo across time. He declares, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21, ESV) Love for Jesus is not a fleeting sentiment but a lived commitment, expressed through obedience to his teachings. For farmers, this obedience might manifest in tending the land with respect, in wisdom, and honoring the rhythms of creation, the weather and seasons. For us, it means understanding the seasons of life we are in, stewarding the resources, relationships, and opportunities God has entrusted to us, our time, talent, treasure, and the world we inhabit.

Farmers face formidable challenges: unpredictable weather, invasive pests, or volatile markets. A single hailstorm can destroy a season's labor. Yet farmers plant in faith, trusting God for the harvest. Their work is a dance of effort and surrender, balancing diligent preparation with reliance on forces beyond their control. We, too, face uncertainties, job instability, financial pressures, health issues, or strained relationships.

Like farmers, we must learn this dance between effort and surrender. We must follow wisdom, trust, and act faithfully amid the unknown, keeping Jesus' commandments to love God and neighbor all the way through. Living Rogation today means seeing our daily decisions as acts of stewardship, reflecting the same trust farmers show when they sow seeds in hope, trusting God for the outcome.

The call to stewardship is deeply biblical. In Genesis, God places Adam in the garden "to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15, ESV), a mandate that extends to all humanity. Farmers embody this calling literally, nurturing soil and livestock to feed the world. We embody it figuratively, cultivating our lives to bear fruit for God's kingdom. Consider a teacher shaping young minds, a parent nurturing a child's faith, or a professional using skills to serve others, each is a form of stewardship, no less sacred than a farmer's plow.

Yet, like farmers, we often face setbacks. A project fails, a relationship falters, or our best efforts yield little. Rogationtide reminds us that stewardship is not about guaranteed success but about faithful effort. Jesus' words in John 14:21 link obedience to love, promising that our faithfulness draws us closer to him regardless of the outcomes.

This perspective transforms our daily routines. Just as a farmer checks the soil's health, we can assess our priorities, ensuring they align with God's will. Just as a farmer plants with hope for a future harvest, we invest in relationships and causes, trusting God to bring growth. Rogationtide challenges us to view our lives as fields entrusted to our care, where every choice, however small, can honor the Creator. Whether we are balancing a checkbook or mentoring a colleague, we are stewards, called to reflect God's love in all we do. Live Rogation by sowing seeds of faithfulness, trusting God for the outcome.

Jesus' promise in John 14 deepens as he responds to Judas (not Iscariot), who asks, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answers, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:22–23, ESV) This is the heart of Rogation: God is not a distant ruler but a near companion, dwelling with those who love and obey him. For farmers, this presence is a lifeline when drought looms or crops wither. Just so for us, it is an anchor when life feels unsteady.

Farmers live with constant uncertainty. Will the rains come in time? Will the harvest cover costs? A late frost or a trade dispute can unravel months of work, yet farmers rise each day, trusting God's provision. We face parallel uncertainties: will our careers flourish? Will our children thrive? A sudden expense, a health crisis, or a fractured friendship can shake our confidence, much like a blight tests a farmer's resolve. Jesus' promise assures us that God makes his home with us, walking with us through every storm. His presence is not contingent on our success but on our saving faith in him.

Psalm 67:1–2 amplifies this trust: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations." (Psalm 67:1–2, ESV) The psalmist seeks God's blessing, not primarily for his gain, but so that God's ways might be known worldwide, as something only God can do. Later, it celebrates provision in verse 6: "The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us." (Psalm 67:6, ESV) Farmers pray this literally, hoping for fertile and fruitful fields. We pray it figuratively, asking God to make our lives fruitful, in relationships, work, health, finances, and faith. Rogationtide invites us to trust that God's presence brings life, whether to a vineyard or a weary soul.

To live Rogation today, trust God's presence, as farmers trust him for rain. They cannot control the weather, yet they work in faith, preparing fields with hope. When life feels uncertain, a job loss, a health scare, or a broken dream, remember Jesus' promise: "We will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23, ESV). Let us pray through our fears, trusting God is near, as Psalm 67 assures us his face shines upon us. Take practical steps, seek counsel, adjust plans, or reach out to others, while resting in God's presence. Let us live Rogation by anchoring our hearts in the God who dwells with us, knowing he walks with us through every storm.

Jesus anticipates his disciples' anxiety about his departure, promising, "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:25–26, ESV) The Holy Spirit, our Helper, continues Jesus' work, guiding us through life's complexities. For farmers, this kind of guidance is crucial when deciding when to plant or how to manage pests. For us, Holy Spirit wisdom is vital as we navigate our own decisions under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Farmers blend hard-earned wisdom with adaptability. They face dilemmas, new technologies, weather events, or economic policies and pressures, that demand discernment. A farmer might weigh whether to invest in irrigation or diversify crops, knowing each choice carries risks. We face similar crossroads: should we change homes? How do we grandparent a struggling child? How do we mend a fractured relationship? The Holy Spirit is our guide, teaching us to apply Jesus' words to our circumstances. When farmers face a failed crop, they learn from the season, adjusting their methods. When we face setbacks, the Spirit helps us recall God's faithfulness, urging us to adapt and persevere.

Joel 2:21–27 offers a vivid picture of this hope. After a locust plague devastates the land, God declares, "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield." (Joel 2:21–22, ESV) He promises restoration: "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten." (Joel 2:25, ESV) And presence: "You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else." (Joel 2:27, ESV) Farmers hear this as a promise of renewed harvests. We hear it as a spiritual assurance, God restores what life's locusts steal, whether joy, hope, or peace.

The Holy Spirit makes this restoration possible. When we face our own locusts, grief, doubt, or failure, the Spirit guides us to healing. Rogationtide calls us to rely on the Spirit, who equips us for every challenge, just as he strengthens farmers through unpredictable seasons.

This reliance requires attentiveness. Farmers study weather patterns and soil conditions; we must study Scripture, pray, and listen for the Spirit's voice. The Spirit often speaks through quiet nudges, a Scripture verse, a friend's advice, or a moment of clarity. Living Rogation means cultivating this sensitivity, trusting the Spirit to guide us. Whether we are making big decisions or small, the Spirit is our Helper, leading us to paths of life.

Jesus concludes with a profound gift in verse 27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27, ESV) This peace is not the world's temporary calm but a deep assurance rooted in God's presence. Farmers need this peace when storms threaten or markets collapse. We need it when anxiety grips us, over finances, futures, or failures.

Farmers live with risks that test their resilience. A drought or a trade dispute can upend their plans, yet many find peace in trusting God's provision. They know that, while they cannot control every outcome, God is faithful. We face our own risks. A missed deadline, a medical bill, or a news headline can trouble our hearts, just as a blight troubles a farmer. Jesus' peace anchors us, reminding us that God is with us, as present in our daily struggles as he is in the fields. This peace is not passive but active, empowering us to face challenges without fear.

Jesus ties this peace to his departure and return in verse 28: "You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."(John 14:28, ESV) His leaving paves the way for the Spirit's coming and his ultimate return, a hope that sustains us as it does farmers awaiting the harvest. Psalm 67's vision, "God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" (Psalm 67:7, ESV), and God's promise in Joel, "my people shall never again be put to shame" (Joel 2:27, ESV), point to this hope. Farmers trust God for the next season; we trust him for the next step and our final home.

Rogationtide invites us to claim this peace, letting it guard our hearts. When fears arise, we can breathe deeply, pray, and act with courage, knowing that the God who blesses fields blesses our lives.

To live Rogation today, rest in Christ's peace, as farmers rest in God's provision. They face risks but find calm in faith, trusting God through uncertain seasons. When anxiety strikes, over finances, relationships, or the future, claim Jesus' gift: "Peace I leave with you." (John 14:27, ESV) Pause to pray, reflect on his promises, and take practical steps, budget carefully, seek support, or adjust expectations, while resting in his peace. Live Rogation by letting his peace guard your heart, knowing that the God who restores fields (Joel 2:25) restores you, carrying you through every trial.

So, in conclusion, may we love God by keeping his word, stewarding our lives with care. May we trust his presence, knowing he dwells with us. May we rely on the Holy Spirit, following his guidance through life's complexities. And may we rest in Christ's peace, unafraid of what lies ahead. Like farmers awaiting the harvest, let us live with hope, trusting that the God who makes fields fruitful makes our lives fruitful too. May our prayers bless the land, our actions bless our neighbors, and our lives bless the Lord.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.