[ampaterry]

Today is Rogation Sunday, a day recognized by Roman Catholic, Anglican and some other churches. The recognition of this day dates back to the fifth century, when this was a time for fasting before Ascension Sunday as repentance for sins and supplication for blessing on the crops. Here in the USA this changed very early in the Colonial period. Each Spring on this day, farmers prayed for a good harvest, and the pastor and congregation would walk from the church into the fields to ask God's blessing on the crops planted there. In the evening, each farmer and his family would walk the borders of their property and give thanks for the land. As they walked, a boy in the family would be bumped into the boundary stones, or dunked into the boundary stream, then he was given a small gift. The purpose of this was to make this child remember the boundaries of the land which he would someday inherit. Neighbors would do this at the same time, each on their own side of the property lines.
Scripture is very clear on the importance of boundaries:
Proverbs 22:28 (KJV); Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Deuteronomy 19:14 (KJV); Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
And how does this apply to us, as Jews or Christians in 2011?
Some of us may not own property which requires the boundary markers to be recognized and remembered, but we do all have boundary markers. God set them in place, and they are the clear directives of the Law which is given to us. Today, the world is working to obliterate these markers. Sinners wish to run wild and free across the fields of immorality unfettered by any limitation on their activities; if it feels good, DO IT! As the people of God, we are obligated to remember the boundaries of God's law, to honor them, and to abide within them not as prisoners, but as free agents who choose morality over lasciviousness.

May God bless and have mercy on each of us -