[caption id=”attachment_4980” align=”alignleft” width=”489” caption=”Sitting in Midst of the Doctors. James Tissot, c. 1895”]
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Today is the first Sunday after Epiphany, an observance of our Lord’s visit to His Temple as a boy.
The Glory of the Lord Returns to the Temple in the Boy Jesus
In the days of Solomon, the Lord dwelt among His people in the temple. The glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord in the form of a cloud (1 Kings 8:6–13). Now Jesus, who is the glory of the Lord in the flesh, enters the temple to show that He Himself is the everlasting temple and dwelling place of God (Luke 2:41–52). Our young Lord, true man, subject to Mary and Joseph, reveals Himself also to be true God, whose father is not Joseph but the Almighty Father in heaven. Jesus does this at the time of the Passover. For He came to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even as He was found by his parents after three days, so He would later rise from the dead on the third day that the favor of God might rest also upon us. It is by these mercies of God that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God through Christ (Rom. 12:1–5). The Scripture readings appointed for this day in the historic lectionary system are:
Introit: Ps. 100:1–5; antiphon: Is. 6:1, Rev. 19:6
Psalter: Psalm 50:1-15 (antiphon: v. 15)
Old Testament: 1 Kings 8:6–13
Epistle: Romans 12:1–5
Gradual: Ps. 72:18, 3
Verse: Ps. 100:1–2a
Gospel: Luke 2:41–52
Here is one of Bach’s Cantatas for the First Sunday after the Epiphany, BWV 154. The anxious sense of loss experienced by Jesus’ parents is transferred to the Christian who feels at times that he has lost Jesus, only to be assured that Jesus was never lost, and that through His Word, our Lord always keeps us close to Himself. The texts follows the video, in the extended entry.
| 1 | Aria [Tenor] |
| Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo | |
| Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren: My dearest Jesus is lost: O Wort, das mir Verzweiflung bringt, Oh word that brings me despair, O Schwert, das durch die Seele dringt, Oh sword that pierces through my soul, O Donnerwort in meinen Ohren. Oh thunderous word in my ears. | |
| 2 | Recitative [Tenor] |
| Continuo | |
| Wo treff ich meinen Jesum an, Where do I find my Jesus, Wer zeiget mir die Bahn, who shows me the way Wo meiner Seele brünstiges Verlangen, where the ardent desire of my soul Mein Heiland, hingegangen? my saviour has gone? Kein Unglück kann mich so empfindlich rühren, No misfortune can disturb me so grievously Als wenn ich Jesum soll verlieren. as would the loss of Jesus. | |
| 3 | Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
| Oboe d’amore I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll’Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo | |
| Jesu, mein Hort und Erretter, Jesus, my stronghold and deliverer, Jesu, meine Zuversicht, Jesus, my ground of confidence, Jesu, starker Schlangentreter, Jesus, mighty trampler of the serpent Jesu, meines Lebens Licht! Jesus, light of my life! Wie verlanget meinem Herzen, How my heart longs Jesulein, nach dir mit Schmerzen! dear Jesus, for you with sorrow! Komm, ach komm, ich warte dein, Come, oh come, I wait for you, Komm, o liebstes Jesulein! come my beloved dearest Jesus. | |
| 4 | Aria [Alto] |
| Oboe d’amore I/II, Violino I/II e Viola all’ unisono, Cembalo | |
| Jesu, lass dich finden, Jesus, let me fnd you, Laß doch meine Sünden do not allow my sins Keine dicke Wolken sein, to be thick clouds Wo du dich zum Schrecken where to my horror Willst für mich verstecken, you will be hidden from me. Stelle dich bald wieder ein! Appear again soon! | |
| 5 | Arioso [Bass] |
| Continuo | |
| Wisset ihr nicht, dass ich sein muss in dem, das meines Vaters ist ? (Luke 2:49) Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business? | |
| 6 | Recitative [Tenor] |
| Continuo | |
| Dies ist die Stimme meines Freundes, This is the voice of my friend, Gott Lob und Dank! praise and thanks to God! Mein Jesu, mein getreuer Hort, My Jesus,my faithful stronghold Läßt durch sein Wort, through his word allows me Sich wieder tröstlich hören; to hear him once more and be consoled; Ich war vor Schmerzen krank, I was sick with pains, Der Jammer wollte mir das Mark my grief was about to consume the marrow In Beinen fast verzehren; in my bones; Nun aber wird mein Glaube wieder stark, but now my faith again becomes strong, Nun bin ich höchst erfreut; now again I feel the greatest delight Denn ich erblicke meiner Seele Wonne, for I catch sight of my soul’s delight, Den Heiland, meine Sonne, my saviour, my sun, Der nach betrübter Trauernacht who after a troubled night of sorrow Durch seinen Glanz mein Herze fröhlich macht. through his splendour makes my heart joyful. Auf, Seele, mache dich bereit! Up, soul, make yourself ready Du musst zu ihm You must go to him In seines Vaters Haus, hin in den Tempel ziehn; in his father’s house, enter into the temple; Da lässt er sich in seinem Wort erblicken, there he makes himself seen in his word, Da will er dich im Sakrament erquicken; there he will refresh you in the sacrament; Doch, willst du würdiglich sein Fleisch und Blut genießen, but, if you would worthily enjoy his flesh and blood, So musst du Jesum auch in Buß und Glauben küssen. then you must also kiss Jesus in repentance and faith. | |
| 7 | Aria (Duetto) [Alto, Tenor] |
| Oboe d’amore I e Violino I all’ unisono, Oboe d’amore II e Violino II all’ unisono, Viola, Continuo | |
| Wohl mir, Jesus ist gefunden, How happy I am, Jesus is found, Nun bin ich nicht mehr betrübt. now I am troubled no more. Der, den meine Seele liebt, He whom my soul loves, Zeigt sich mir zur frohen Stunden. reveals himself to me in hours of joy. Ich will dich, mein Jesu, nun nimmermehr lassen, I want never again to abandon you, my Jesus, Ich will dich im Glauben beständig umfassen. I want to embrace you constantly in faith. | |
| 8 | Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
| Oboe d’amore I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll’Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo | |
| Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht, I do not leave my Jesus, Geh ihm ewig an der Seiten; I go always by his side, Christus lässt mich für und für Christ makes me forever Zu den Lebensbächlein leiten. be led to the stream of life. Selig, wer mit mir so spricht: Blessed is whoever says with me: Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht. I do not leave my Jesus. |
