J.S. Bach’s Sunday Canata: Rogate
Johann Sebastian Bach (aged 61) in a portrait by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, second version of his 1746 canvas. Bach is holding a copy of the six-part canon BWV 1076.
Johann Sebastian Bach composed weekly cantatas to accompany the Sundays and feast days of the Historic Lectionary—a cycle of Scripture readings used by Christians for centuries. This lectionary shaped the worship life of the Western Church, including Roman Catholics until the reforms of Vatican II, and remains in use today among many Lutheran congregations, including our own here at St. Thomas.
These cantatas are not merely concerts—they are sermons in music. Each one beautifully unites Scripture, sacred poetry, and hymnody, often incorporating chorales that are still sung in our services today. Bach’s music proclaims the Word of God with emotional depth and theological clarity, offering both comfort and exhortation to the faithful.
The English translation for this week’s cantata is drawn from www.bach-cantatas.com. We pray that the Word of Christ, communicated through this sacred music, strengthens your faith and prepares your heart to hear God’s Word preached this Rogate Sunday.
Readings for Rogate Sunday
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:22-27
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:23-33
Performance Recording
English Translation
Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name will be given to you.
I shall indeed therfore pluck roses
even if thorns prick me at the same time.
For I have confidence
that my prayers and entreaty
go straight to God’s heart
since this is promised by his Word.And what God ,who is eternally good,
has promised in his Word,
sworn by his name,
he will certainly keep and fulfil.
May he help us to join the company of angels
through Jesus Christ. Amen.God does not act like the world,
that promises much and keeps little;
for what he promised must happen,
so that in this we can see his delight and joy.God’s help is certain;
if for the moment his help is postponed,
it is not therefore cancelled.
For God’s word makes this clear:
God’s help is certain!Hope waits for the right time
for what God’s word promises;
when this should joyfully happen
God sets no certain day.
He knows well what is best
and uses no cunning deceit with us;
therefore we should trust him.
(English Translation by Francis Browne)
Scripture References
John 16:23b
"Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you."
Quoted directly in: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name will be given to you.”
1 John 5:14
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
Reflected in: “I have confidence that my prayers and entreaty go straight to God’s heart…”
Psalm 145:18–19
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him… He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him."
Implied in: “I have confidence that my prayers… go straight to God’s heart…”
Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do?"
Quoted in: “What God… has promised in his Word… he will certainly keep and fulfil.”
Hebrews 6:17–18
"God… confirmed it by an oath… it is impossible for God to lie."
Referenced in: “What God… has… sworn by his name, he will certainly keep and fulfil.”
Psalm 119:89–90
"Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven… You are faithful to all generations."
Implied in: “What God… has promised in his Word… he will certainly keep and fulfil.”
Romans 3:4
"Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar."
Reflected in: “God does not act like the world, that promises much and keeps little…”
Isaiah 55:11
"So shall My word be… it shall accomplish what I please."
Implied in: “God does not act like the world… for God’s word makes this clear…”
Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Quoted in: “God’s help is certain… God’s help is certain!”
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you… I will help you."
Echoed in: “God’s help is certain!”
Psalm 27:13–14
"Wait on the Lord… He shall strengthen your heart."
Implied in: “Hope waits for the right time for what God’s word promises…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."
Reflected in: “Hope waits for the right time…”
Lamentations 3:25–26
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him… It is good that one should hope and wait quietly..."
Echoed in: “Hope waits for the right time…”
Proverbs 3:5–6
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Implied in: “Therefore we should trust him…”
Hymns We Still Sing
Walther’s Hymnal 276, “‘Come Hither,’ Saith the Son of God”
Tune: Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn. 41. [TLH 263; LW 300; LSB 666 (mel.)]
“Come hither,” saith the Son of God,
”All ye who loathe sin’s heavy load
And would no longer bear it;
Come hither, young and old, to Me,
For well I know your injury
And gladly would repair it.”“My yoke is mild, My burden light,
And all who bear its easy weight,
Release from hell are given.
I’ll give them strength when theirs would fail,
And by My strength they shall prevail
And so inherit heaven.“All I have done and suffered here
From womb to cross, do ye revere,
And emulate in measure.
What you may think or say or do
Is neither safe nor good nor true,
But as it seeks My pleasure.”The world may wish the bliss to gain
Without the cross, reproach, and pain,
Of which they hear the warning:
It cannot be! The cross is there,
And they must choose its shame to bear,
Or endless shame and mourning.Lo, all creation testifies
That all that is decays and dies—
Earth, sky, and water languish.
Who then despises God’s high name
Shall be the devil’s own to claim,
And death shall be his anguish.Man flaunts today the pomps that please,
Tomorrow sickens with disease,
And next, behold, he’s dying!
Then, like the blossom’s fading bloom,
To him earth’s glory sinks in gloom,
Its hopes in ruin lying.No wealth can buy an hour’s delay,
Youth pleads in vain for longer stay,
His joys and he must sever.
Though eyes around with pity flow,
Death has no pity to bestow—
Farewell to earth forever!The wise their wondrous skill disdain,
For worldly splendor is but vain
And e’er to dust is tending.
Alas for them who have not found
While there is time, in Christ their ground:
Their death is woe unending.The worldly are afraid of death,
And only when they gasp for breath
Are mindful of devotion.
One toiled for this and one for that,
But each his own poor soul forgot,
In all of earth’s commotion.At last, when he must surely die,
He lifts to God an anxious cry,
And makes a forced surrender:—
I sadly fear, God’s slighted grace,
Which long with scorn he did efface,
Will scarce a pardon tender.Dear children, ye your God who own
And piety in heart have shown,
Let not your souls be troubled!
Confide in Jesus’ holy Word,
The greatest Refuge ever heard,
So shall your joys be doubled.Requite not evil deeds in wrath,
Pursue in love the narrow path,
Heed not the world’s seduction;
Revenge and glory yield to God,
Stray not to byways lush and broad—
For there is all destruction.Could but the flesh indulge its mood
In pleasure, pomp, and worldly good,
Your trust full soon would waver:
In mercy sending earthly cares,
By chast’ning God the soul prepares
To greet His endless favor.But seems your cross too much to bear?
Then think of hell—its dark despair—
To which the world is hasting:
Its flame eternally supplies
Each man with torment, groans, and sighs—
Its fuèl never wasting.But ye, beyond this world’s annoy,
In Christ shall find your endless joy—
Which ye do well to ponder;
No mortal tongue can realize
What pleasures and eternal prize
Shall swell you with their wonder.For, what the God of changeless truth
Confirms by Spirit and by oath,
Must come, and ye shall see it.
Whoso will trust His proffered grace
Shall in His kingdom find a place
Through Jesus Christ. So be it!
Text: G. Grünwald, 1530, tr., composite.
Lutheran Service Book 555, “Salvation Unto Us Has Come”
Salvation unto us has come
By God’s free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.What God did in His Law demand
And none to Him could render
Caused wrath and woe on ev’ry hand
For man, the vile offender.
Our flesh has not those pure desires
The spirit of the Law requires,
And lost is our condition.It was a false, misleading dream
That God His Law had given
That sinners could themselves redeem
And by their works gain heaven.
The Law is but a mirror bright
To bring the inbred sin to light
That lurks within our nature.From sin our flesh could not abstain,
Sin held its sway unceasing;
The task was useless and in vain,
Our guilt was e’er increasing.
None can remove sin’s poisoned dart
Or purify our guileful heart—
So deep is our corruption.Yet as the Law must be fulfilled
Or we must die despairing,
Christ came and has God’s anger stilled,
Our human nature sharing.
He has for us the Law obeyed
And thus the Father’s vengeance stayed
Which over us impended.Since Christ has full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian therefore may be glad
And build on this foundation
Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead,
Your death is now my life indeed,
For You have paid my ransom.Let me not doubt, but truly see
Your Word cannot be broken;
Your call rings out, “Come unto Me!”
No falsehood have You spoken.
Baptized into Your precious name,
My faith cannot be put to shame,
And I shall never perish.The just is he—and he alone—
Who by this faith is living,
The faith that by good works is shown,
To God the glory giving;
Faith gives thee peace with God above,
But thou thy neighbor, too, must love,
If thou art new created.The Law reveals the guilt of sin
And makes us conscience-stricken;
But then the Gospel enters in
The sinful soul to quicken.
Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live;
The Law no peace can ever give,
No comfort and no blessing.Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone
And rests in Him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
For faith alone can justify;
Works serve our neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.Hope waits for the accepted hour—
Till God give joy for mourning,
When He displays His healing pow’r,
Thy sighs to songs are turning;
Thy needs are known unto thy Lord,
And He is faithful to His word,
This is our hope’s foundation.Though it may seem, He hears thee not,
Count not thyself forsaken;
Thy wants are ne’er by Him forgot,
Let this thy hope awaken;
His word is sure, here is thy stay.
And though thy flesh say only nay,
Let not thy faith be shaken.All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise
To Father, Son, and Spirit,
The God who saved us by His grace;
All glory to His merit.
O triune God in heav’n above,
You have revealed Your saving love;
Your blessèd name we hallow.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth, as ‘tis in heaven:
Keep us in life, by grace led on,
Forgiving and forgiven;
Save Thou us in temptation’s hour,
And from all ills; Thine is the pow’r,
Your blessèd name we hallow.
Text: P. Speratus, 1523; tr., TLH, 1941; but sts. 8, 11-12, 14, Døving, 1904, alt.
For more about who we are and what we believe, visit the St. Thomas homepage.
