Looking Forward to Sunday at St. Thomas—Feast of St. Bartholomew
Start Here: Looking Forward with Issues, Etc.
Each week, the Lutheran radio program Issues, Etc. features an hour long conversation that walks through the propers for the upcoming Sunday in the Church Year. This is a helpful way to prepare your heart and mind to hear God’s Word and receive His gifts.
Listen Now—”Looking Forward to Feasts and Festivals: St. Bartholomew”
The Bach Cantata for This Sunday
Johann Sebastian Bach composed sacred cantatas for nearly every Sunday and feast day in the Church Year. These cantatas proclaim Christ through the same Scripture readings and themes appointed for each Sunday.
This Week’s Cantata:
Note: Johann Sebastian Bach did not compose a surviving cantata specifically for the Feast of St. Bartholomew. Yet his Cantata BWV 44, Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, speaks directly to the suffering of the apostles. Tradition remembers St. Bartholomew as one who willingly suffered for the sake of Christ’s Word, keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord’s promise and entrusting himself to His will. The cantata gives voice to that same hope: “Soon after storms of tribulation, the sun of joy has indeed smiled.” In Christ, rejection and persecution do not have the final word—He remains in control and will return in glory to grant His faithful people the blessed life of the world to come.
BWV 44—”They Will Place You Under the Ban”
Watch the Performance:
Read the English Translation:
From BachCantataTexts.org—Texts and Historically-Informed Translations for the Music of Johann Sebastian Bach
Sacred Art: The Gospel in Image
Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew
Mattia Preti, after 1660
Brief Commentary
Mattia Preti’s Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew captures the moment of the apostle’s brutal death with stark realism. Bartholomew’s aged body is bound to the crossbeam as his executioner begins to flay him, yet his face turns upward, fixed on something beyond the violence before him. The dramatic contrasts of light and shadow underscore the tension between earthly suffering and heavenly hope. In this way, Preti shows Bartholomew not merely as a victim, but as a witness who entrusts himself to the Lord’s promise of eternal life.
The Propers for the Feast of St. Bartholomew
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Psalm 139:17 [DR], 1–2a
To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting.
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Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, chose Bartholomew to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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Proverbs 3:1–8
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
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Psalm 139:17 [DR], 8a
To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.
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2 Corinthians 4:7–10
Brethren: We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
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Ephesians 2:19
Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
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Luke 22:24–30
At that time: There was a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
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Lord Jesus, Refuge of Mankind
Walther’s Hymnal 164 (tune: LSB 666)Lord Jesus, Refuge of mankind,
Whose Holy Word shows sinners blind
The only way to heaven,
We sing aloud Thy wondrous grace,
Which not to our own day we trace,
But long before was given.In days of yore it was that Thou
Didst in humiliation bow
To bring Thy Word unto us,
That Word that gives our spirits ease
Proclaiming healing homilies
To strengthen and renew us.But when the perfect time had come
To rise to heav’n, Thy royal home,
And pass to men Thy preaching
With wisdom deep Thou didst ordain
A chosen few to keep, sustain,
And speak to us Thy teaching.The office of the ministry
Thou didst ordain initially
In Thine Apostles gathered.
So every seed that Thou hadst sown
By them was tended, fed, and grown
And thus Thy Church was furthered.O faithful God, what faithfulness
At every turn they did possess
And in their service give Thee,
Who, though endangered and in need,
Despised, afflicted, made to bleed,
Yea, dying, would not leave Thee!What agonies by men devised
Fell not upon these saints of Christ
When they proclaimed His blessing?
With rods of iron they were bruised,
With stones and crosses sorely used,
And perished, Him confessing.O fearless heart! O dauntless gaze,
That suffered even fiery blaze
And punishments more fearful!
They fought, Thy glories wide to spread,
And for Thy truth their blood was shed
Til death they greeted cheerful.So too, when, in the course of time,
The devil wove his web of crime
With terrorizing power,
Yet Christian teachers, wise and sage,
And Christendom of every age
He could not bring to cower.Through hill and valley they were sought
In great distress and anguish caught,
In fetters to awaken,
As prey for wolf and lions’ jowl,
And so by many means more foul
Their lives from them were taken.And yet, O Lord, Thy precious Word
By no such trials was deterred,
But all the more was nourished,
By martyrdom they did increase
Thy word of healing, life, and peace
And rich its fruits have flourished.Thus all the world has come to know
That in Thy hands the Church shall grow,
And follow Thee, her Master,
Nor can the threat of fire or sword
Chase off the sheep within Thy ward
Or turn them from Thy pasture.Now, Lord, how must Thy heritage
With highest thanks in every age
Exclaim Thy fitting praises!
To see how this Thy Word was sent
To bring us very nourishment
Our humble mind amazes:And so this pray’r we ask of Thee:
That Thou, O Lord, wouldst graciously
Thy Word be still securing
Within Thy shelter, safe from woe
And from the cunning of the foe;
Give us Thy help enduring.Lord, let Thy Gospel, full of cheer,
That Thou hast granted us to hear
In times of peace and quiet
Confirm our faith and trust in Thee,
Instill in us Thy charity,
Nor let us e’er deny it.But if in time there come to be
New persecutions, tyranny,
Oppression, pain, and sadness,
Oh, help us then with willing heart
Like the Apostles at the start,
To bear our cross with gladness.May we with hearts as martyrs bold
Nor flesh nor blood of ours withhold,
Thy doctrine pure defending,
That in the battle’s aftermath
And goodly testing of our faith
Thy glory be extended.O Lord, to Thee we now commend
Thy holy Church from end to end;
Oh, let her perish never—
In war and peace, in joy and woe—
Until hereafter we shall know
Thy heav’nly glories ever.Text: J. C. Arnschwanger, †1696; tr., Matthew Carver ©2012 KOMMT HER ZU MIR
Tune: German, Nurnberg, 1534 PublicDomain
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Romans 10:18b
Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
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Matthew 19:28b
Ye which have followed Me shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, saith the Lord.
Lectionary Theme Summary
This Sunday’s readings center on:
St. Bartholomew, Apostle
According to ancient tradition, Bartholomew (also called Nathanael in John) was martyred by being flayed alive. His death bore witness to the truth of Christ’s words: His apostles are not to be lords, but servants who share in His trials (Luke 22:24–30). They are “jars of clay,” bearing the treasure of the Gospel, so that the surpassing power may be seen to belong to God and not to them (2 Cor. 4:7). They are afflicted in every way, always carrying in their bodies the death of Jesus, so that His life might also be manifested (2 Cor. 4:8–10). On the foundation of this apostolic witness the Church is built, Christ Himself being the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20–21). Bartholomew preached and confessed Christ, “the Son of God” and “the Son of Man,” who opens heaven by His wounds (John 1:49–51). We too bear sufferings, not trusting in our own understanding, but entrusting ourselves to the Lord (Prov. 3:5–7), who will bring healing and life to our mortal bodies on the Last Day (Prov. 3:8). For this reason, Bartholomew is often depicted holding his flayed skin—a reminder that even this will be restored in the resurrection of the flesh.
Veit Dietrich’s Summary Prayer:
Lord God, heavenly Father, you have blessed your Church with faithful servants, who lead us in your Word and bring many to know and walk in your fear, and through Christ be blessed. Govern all servants of your Church by your Holy Spirit that they may do their service faithfully and not be deterred by greed, arrogance or Satan, or become lax or lazy in their service, but that your kingdom may expand and that Satan’s may be destroyed. Amen.
Voices of the Church: Fathers and Confessions
Each Sunday, the Church gathers to hear Christ in the Scriptures, and she has always confessed that Word with one voice. This section features brief excerpts from the Church Fathers, the Lutheran Confessions, usually the Large Catechism and the Formula of Concord. These selections highlight how the Church in every age has confessed the same faith drawn from God’s Word. Use them for meditation and instruction as we prepare to receive Christ’s gifts anew.
From the Church Fathers
ANONYMOUS 2ND CENTURY AUTHOR (THE DIDACHE)
My child, him who proclaims to you the word of God, remember day and night, and honor him as the Lord. For wherever the kingship is proclaimed, the Lord is there. And seek out daily the company of the saints so that you might find refreshment in their words. Do not cause divisions, but make peace between disputants. Judge justly. Do not show partiality in reproving transgressions. Do not be of two minds whether or not something should be. Do not be one who stretches out his hands to receive, but holds back when it comes to giving.
From the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE (8)
Christ clearly bans lordship among the apostles. This was the very question: When Christ spoke of His passion, the apostles were disputing over who should be the head of the others, and, as it were, the vicar of the absent Christ. Christ rebukes this error of the apostles and teaches that there shall not be lordship or superiority among them. Instead, the apostles would be sent forth as equals to the common ministry of the Gospel. So, He says, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” (22:25–26). The contrast here shows that lordship [among the apostles] is not approved.
From the Large Catechism
SIXTH PETITION (VI.101-110)
Temptation, however, or (as our Saxons in olden times used to call it) Bekörunge, is of three kinds: of the flesh, of the world, and of the devil. 102 For we dwell in the flesh and carry the old Adam about our neck. He exerts himself and encourages us daily to unchastity, laziness, gluttony and drunkenness, greed and deception, to defraud our neighbor and to overcharge him [Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5–8]. In short, the old Adam encourages us to have all kinds of evil lusts, which cling to us by nature and to which we are moved by the society, the example, and what we hear and see of other people. They often wound and inflame even an innocent heart.
Next comes the world, which offends us in word and deed. It drives us to anger and impatience. In short, there is nothing but hatred and envy, hostility, violence and wrong, unfaithfulness, vengeance, cursing, railing, slander, pride and haughtiness, with useless finery, honor, fame, and power. No one is willing to be the least. Everyone desires to sit at the head of the group and to be seen before all [Luke 14:7–11].
Then comes the devil, pushing and provoking in all directions. But he especially agitates matters that concern the conscience and spiritual affairs. He leads us to despise and disregard both God’s Word and works. He tears us away from faith, hope, and love [1 Corinthians 13:13], and he brings us into misbelief, false security, and stubbornness. Or, on the other hand, he leads us to despair, denial of God, blasphemy, and innumerable other shocking things. These are snares and nets [2 Timothy 2:26], indeed, real fiery darts that are shot like poison into the heart, not by flesh and blood, but by the devil [Ephesians 6:12, 16].
Great and grievous, indeed, are these dangers and temptations, which every Christian must bear. We bear them even though each one were alone by himself. So every hour that we are in this vile life, we are attacked on all sides [2 Corinthians 4:8], chased and hunted down. We are moved to cry out and to pray that God would not allow us to become weary and faint [Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 12:3] and to fall again into sin, shame, and unbelief. For otherwise it is impossible to overcome even the least temptation.
This, then, is what “lead us not into temptation” means. It refers to times when God gives us power and strength to resist the temptation [1 Corinthians 10:13]. However, the temptation is not taken away or removed. While we live in the flesh and have the devil around us, no one can escape his temptation and lures. It can only mean that we must endure trials—indeed, be engulfed in them [2 Timothy 2:3]. But we say this prayer so that we may not fall and be drowned in them.
To feel temptation is, therefore, a far different thing from consenting or yielding to it. We must all feel it, although not all in the same way. Some feel it in a greater degree and more severely than others. For example, the young suffer especially from the flesh. Afterward, when they reach middle life and old age, they feel it from the world. But others who are occupied with spiritual matters, that is, strong Christians, feel it from the devil. 108 Such feeling, as long as it is against our will and we would rather be rid of it, can harm no one. For if we did not feel it, it could not be called a temptation. But we consent to it when we give it the reins and do not resist or pray against it.
Therefore, we Christians must be armed [Ephesians 6:10–18] and daily expect to be constantly attacked. No one may go on in security and carelessly, as though the devil were far from us. At all times we must expect and block his blows. Though I am now chaste, patient, kind, and in firm faith, the devil will this very hour send such an arrow into my heart that I can scarcely stand. For he is an enemy that never stops or becomes tired. So when one temptation stops, there always arise others and fresh ones.
So there is no help or comfort except to run here, take hold of the Lord’s Prayer, and speak to God from the heart like this: “Dear Father, You have asked me to pray. Don’t let me fall because of temptations.” Then you will see that the temptations must stop and finally confess themselves conquered. 111 If you try to help yourself by your own thoughts and counsel, you will only make the matter worse and give the devil more space. For he has a serpent’s head [Revelation 12:9]. If it finds an opening into which it can slip, the whole body will follow without stopping. But prayer can prevent him and drive him back.
Devotional Suggestions for the Week
Pray the Collect.
Read aloud at least the Gospel text one evening as a family and discuss the sacred art.
Sing a stanza of the Hymn of the Day before dinner or bedtime.
Listen to the Cantata on Saturday night or Sunday morning before church.
Review the Voices of the Church section connected to this Sunday.
Stay Connected
Join us for the Chief Divine Service on Sunday at 9:00 AM and Family Catechesis at 10:30 AM at Klein Funeral Home in Magnolia (14711 FM 1488). All are welcome to hear Christ’s Word and receive His gifts.
To learn more about St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church and our mission in Magnolia, visit our homepage.
