HARVEST OF GOD’S ABUNDANCE

I will give you many descendents and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those you bless. But I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations (Genesis 12: 2 & 3).
Today the church universal marks Rogation Sunday which is also the day (by God’s mercy) we launch our harvest Season. This year’s harvest is tagged “Harvest of God’s abundance” in line with our theme for the year “That I may key into God’s abundance”. It is a good thing that our harvest season launch starts on Rogation Sunday.
The word Rogation is from Latin “rogatio” from the verb rogare meaning “to ask”, beseeching of God for appeasement. It is a day of asking God for something. The origin of rogation has been linked to many ancient traditions. One tradition has it that, it is Christian substitute for Roman pagan rites in honour of Robigo, the god believed to be the protector of crops from mildew. As the church survived the harsh persecution that greeted the early church and Christianity gradually became the official religion in the empire, it became necessary to replace some of the pagan feasts which brought the people together with Christian feasts.
Rogation seems to date very early in the early church. Before the Reformation, priests led processions round the fields, blessing crops and farmlands and prayed alongside farmers for good harvests. It was also called “Rural Life Sunday” or “Soil stewardship Sunday.”etc.
Rogation week was observed in the early church in some parts of Nigeria with priests/catechists leading the church round villages, blessing fishing nets, hoes, knives, canoes, crops etc. Rogation is observed on the three days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) before Ascension Day. Sunday preceding the Rogation days is called Rogation Sunday.
By Divine mercy our church launches our harvest seasons on Rogation Sundays. As it was the practice in the early church we have gathered to ask for the Harvest of God’s abundance. The text from Genesis 12: 2 & 3 is God’s promise to Abraham for obedience. Abraham is called “The father of faith” because he obeyed God even when the picture of where God sent him was not clear and the purpose not clearly defined.

Today many Christians claim Abraham’s blessing but some are not willing to obey the   voice of God like Abraham did. God speaks to us through His word as interpreted by     His ministers. Abraham heard the voice of God and left his father’s house and all the    pagan practices. The early church turned pagan feasts to Christian feasts. If those who are called Christians should abandon all their “pagan” practices, (idolatry, adultery,       greed, covetousness etc) they will receive real divine abundance which is holistic and    last for ever. Any so-called abundance, gotten from disobeying God does not last. For every blessing of God there is an obligation on the part of the recipients. The Scripture  says that God is a rewarder of all those that seek Him diligently (Hebrews 11: 6).
As we celebrate God’s goodness and all the countless natural gifts He lavishes on us, let us resolve to seek Him and obey Him diligently in all we do and we shall experience harvests of God’s abundance in every area of our lives.  We also need to bear in mind, the fact that what we reap is a function of what we sow.  Therefore, be generous today so that you could smile to the bans at harvest time.
God blessed Abraham and he became a blessing to nations. As God blesses you, be a blessing to His church and people around you and God will show Himself that He cannot be indebted to you.
Have a week of generous planting that would blossom into a rich harvest.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede