Patterico's Pontifications

3/1/2020

Sunday Music: Bach Cantata BWV 40

Filed under: Bach Cantatas,General,Music — Patterico @ 12:01 am



It is the first Sunday in Lent. Today’s Bach cantata is “Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes” (For this the Son of God appeared):

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 4:1-11:

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4esus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The text of today’s piece is available here. It contains these words, symbolizing the victory of Jesus over the works and temptations of Satan:

For this the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the Devil.

. . . .

Hellish serpent,
are you not afraid?
He who will crush your head as victor
is now born,
and the lost ones
will be delighted with eternal peace.

The serpent that in Paradise
upon all Adam’s children
dripped venom, poisonous to souls,
brings no more danger to us;
the seed of woman presents Himself,
the Savior has come in the flesh
and has taken away all the venom.
Therefore be comforted! troubled sinner.

Shake your head and say:
flee, ancient serpent!
Why renew your sting,
making me anxious and fearful?
Nevertheless your head is crushed,
and I, through the passion
of my Savior, am borne away from you
into the hall of rejoicing.

Christian children, rejoice!
Though the kingdom of Hell rages,
and Satan’s fury would terrify you:
Jesus, who can save,
takes to Himself His little chicks
and will cover them with His wings.

Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.

P.S. What are you giving up for Lent? You’ll never guess what I’m giving up. (Hint: if you read my posts, you might get a clue. Maybe. Sort of.)

6 Responses to “Sunday Music: Bach Cantata BWV 40”

  1. I play* way too much video games! So I gave them up – to the shock of all my family. I also love arguing with a certain colleague who reciprocates enthusiastically. We both agreed to give up that vice and, instead, begin to be docile to one another. We made it only a few hours on Ash Wednesday before allowing our pride to better us. Everyday will be a struggle.

    * I do not watch “TV,” but I frittered away hours every day on that useless activity. I really should wait until I am bed-ridden before I reengage. Better to take long walks to enjoy The Lord’s creation while I am able.

    felipe (023cc9)

  2. Gahh! I meant that I spend hours plying video games the way others might watch “TV.”

    felipe (023cc9)

  3. Oh, and thank you for these posts!

    felipe (023cc9)

  4. “ I play* way too much video games! So I gave them up – to the shock of all my family.”

    I “gave up video games” in 1982 because I could see myself getting addicted to them. I told myself it would be OK to re-engage when I was too old and immobile to do anything else.

    I have been tempted by a desire to play WW2 Dauntless, Corsair and Mustang simulators but have not yet gotten there.
    _

    harkin (b64479)

  5. Some years ago the then-pastor of my parish suggested that rather than giving up something temporarily during Lent we should instead find something in our character that we think needs to be changed and work to make that change permanent. So I joked with P earlier this week that I have since given up cussing out old ladies and beating up body-builders. But the reality of the situation is that I am trying my best to avoid engaging in uncivil online discourse (you guys get to hold me accountable for that). I am also toying with the idea of trying to go meat-free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Lent, but that is for weight-loss purposes as much as it is for a traditional Lenten sacrifice.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  6. Some years ago the then-pastor of my parish suggested that rather than giving up something temporarily during Lent we should instead find something in our character that we think needs to be changed and work to make that change permanent.

    I think that’s a wonderful suggestion and it forms part of my thinking in choosing my own Lenten goals, but for me, a firm commitment of 40 days (hopefully long enough to establish a habit) feels more realistic than making a lifelong commitment — even if a lifelong commitment is the ultimate goal.

    Patterico (c0430e)


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