“ROGATE”
Saint John 16. 23-30
Rogate - The Fifth Sunday after Easter 1 May Anno Domini 2005
Fr Watson
"Pray Ye." Today is Rogate Sunday. The Latin term which so designates this Mass Day is taken from the Gospel appointed. The word comes from the Latin word "rogo" which means "to call," that is, to call out to God in prayer. We could call it "Prayer Sunday." But that is also a statement of the Law. You are to pray; you are to communicate with your creator. And this required interaction must be such that you "fear, love and trust in Him above all things," including your own tight schedules, active life-styles, lack of motivation, sloth, and tired physical and mental condition. This required interaction must be such that you love your neighbor as yourself; that you do good to those who persecute you and that you pray for your enemies.
There's the rub. That's the problem isn't it? You don't keep the Commandments, rather you break the Commandments. And then, you don't pray about it, you don't regularly "rogo," call upon God, in contrition and intercession to help you be what He says you are; what He says you are to do: "Pray Ye."
Sin keeps you from praying. Sin breaks communion between you and God. When you and your spouse get into a fight, that is, when you sin against each other, the resulting fallout is that you stop speaking to each other; hopefully for not too long. When Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord in the Garden, they too broke off communicating with Him and went into hiding. But the Lord called out to them, sought them, found them, and promised them a Savior Who would come and fix everything that they had just broken; to restore everything that they had just polluted; to bring back to life everything that they had just killed. God restores fellowship with sinful man by becoming perfect man in the flesh and blood of Immanuel: Jesus the Christ.
Jesus prays for you. Jesus continually intercedes for you. Jesus constantly comes to you in His Word and in His Word "plus" (i.e. the Holy Sacraments). This Communion, this communication, keeps you with Him, as His brothers and sisters. Jesus led a perfect life of obedience to correct your daily trespasses (including your non-existent or weak prayer life). Jesus suffered, bled, and gave His holy, innocent life on the Cross to purge away all your sin and the punishment due for it. Jesus gives you all this benefit, this Grace, which is nothing other than Himself, in Holy Baptism. You are again placed into a continual communication with God in those cooling, soothing, + cleansing waters of life. Ahh family....
Only a child can rightfully talk with its parent expecting to be heard. Only a son can talk to his father knowing the love of the Father will always do what's right. You the Baptized are now the rightful children of the King; you are royalty who are never turned away from an audience, and from the granting of your requests. Which requests? The ones which Jesus tells you to pray for.
What are you to pray for? What are you to ask for? Jesus has told you: "Pray ye," or rather, "when ye pray, pray: 'Our Father...'" In the "Our Father" you are given the petitions to entreat the Lord with. You pray that: His Name be hallowed; His kingdom come among you; His will be done in your lives; daily bread be provided for you and yours; your scarlet red sins be washed clean and white by His own precious blood; and that you're kept from temptations and delivered from evil to your soul. These are what Jesus invites you to pray for. These will always be granted. God's answer will always be yes. What do you pray for; how do you pray? Kyrie Eleison, Christie Eleison, Kyrie Elieson, and, Lord I believe, help Thou my unbelief. He hears you in Mercy, He grants your supplications in Mercy, He is Mercy enfleshed. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be full, for He will give you Himself. Ask in His Name. Ask in His Name which is now your Name; it's the "family" name; it's the password which opens the gates of paradise; it's the key which not only unlocks all of Holy Scripture, but also looses all sins, and grants all Christ's merit.
When the "12" had Jesus in front of them, that is, visible to their human eyes, they talked with Him. After His visual "Ascension" to the "Right Hand of Glory," out of their sight, they then "prayed" to Him with their Spiritual eyes. They still talked to Him, and with Him, with their earthly physical tongues and voices--but in prayer. So too do all of you. You "rogo," you call upon Jesus. You pray in Christ's Name. You invoke Him and receive Him over and over again. For "Jesus" is more than a "secret formula," He's more than a "shazam" which transforms you into a "Captain Marvel." Jesus is your God, your Savior, Your Life and Light, your friend and Brother. He's here for you in His Word; and when you hear it, He's in you. He's here for you in the Supper; and when you eat and drink His Body and Blood, He's in you.
"Pray Ye?" Yes, you do; to the Father, In the Son, by the Spirit. Or as we say:
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost