Yes, today also was observed historically by most Christians as a festival day, the third day of rejoicing over the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The historic lectionary readings for this day are, the following, and feature the Gospel reading in John where Christ describes Himself as The Good Shepherd. Interestingly, the image of Christ as a shepherd is one of the most ancient depictions of Christ in the very earliest of Christian art that can be found in catacombs and elsewhere.

Introit: Ps 78:69-72 (antiphon: Lit. text)
Gradual: [Acts 2:17b; Rom. 10:10]
Psalm: Ps 27 (antiphon: Ps 27:1)
OT: Is 32:14-20
NT: Acts 8:14-17
Proper Verse: Lit. text
Gospel: John 10:1-10

And J.S. Bach wrote Cantatas for this occasion. BWV 184 Erwünschtes Freudenlicht, “Desired Light of Joy” and  Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen,”He Calls His Sheep By Name,” BWV 175, performed the first time in Leipzig 1725, on May 22. Both are provided below, music and texts, with German and English translation

We Pray

O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who raises up earthly rulers to work Your will in this life, You called Constantine to the imperial throne and ended wide-spread persecution of Your Son’s Church; grant that as he served You by fulfilling his vocation, so we would continue to receive from You rulers who allow the Church to proclaim the saving Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Almighty God, who called your servant Helena to an earthly position of authority so that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, filling her with zeal for your Church and love for Your people, grant that we may be fruitful in good works and steadfast in our faith in Your Son, and finally by your mercy attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus served as Roman Emperor from AD 306 to 337. During his reign the persecution of Christians was forbidden by the Edict of Milan in 313, and ultimately the faith gained full imperial support.

Constantine took an active interest in the life and teachings of the church and. He called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 at which Saint Athanasius and others defended and defined orthodox Christianity. Among the fruits of this council was one of Christendom’s major confessions of faith, the Nicene Creed.

His mother, Helena (ca. 255-329), strongly influenced Constantine. Her great interest in locating the holy sites of the Christian faith led her to become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Her research led to the identification of Biblical locations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, which are still maintained as places of worship today. One of Christianity’s annual festivals, Holy Cross Day, has its origin in her explorations of Palestine.

Some argue that Constantine may not have been true believer since he wasn’t baptized until his death bed. However, he actively supported Christianity in his later life and even preached upon occasion. Other scholars speculate that he delayed baptism for the same reason as did many others during portions of the Church’s history, that of a general misunderstanding of Holy Baptism.

Constantine the GreatMany theologians spoke of the need for “satisfaction” — making amends for sins committed during one’s life — and warned about time that would be spent in Purgatory by those who didn’t make full satisfaction while still living. Indeed, some even taught that unless proper penance was done, one might find himself forever barred from Heaven!

Since Baptism truly washes away all sin — both that of our birth nature and any transgressions committed later — some thought the best way to avoid Purgatory (or Hell) was to be baptized when one was at death’s door. In so doing, people believed that there would be no unrepented, unsatisfied sins remaining that would leave one waiting for eternal bliss or forever denied its blessings.

I’ll not argue here the reasons why Lutherans reject the notion of satisfaction or the idea of Purgatory. I’ll merely say that if Constantine had such worries, he wasn’t alone during his day, and his decision to delay would be understandable in light of such teaching.

Pentecost Monday is a secular holiday in Germany, but not in the USA, and, sadly, it has been basically and most entirely forgotten among Lutheran Christians, but it was not always so. In the days of Lutheran Orthodoxy, J.S. Bach prepared a lovely Cantata for Pentecost Monday. Here is more information about it then a link to where you can listen to it and follow along with the lyrics, in German and English.

Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday is the holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost. Whit Monday gets its English name for following “Whitsun”, the day that became one of the three baptismal seasons, when those baptized would wear white garments. There are three cantatas for this day. They texts are based on the phrase “God loved the world so much,” and are therefore general praise for God’s goodness. Bach “recyled” some of his Cantatas he had written thanking God for secular rulers, and turned them into praises to God for the gift of Christ.

Readings:
Acts 10:42–48, “Sermon of St. Peter for Cornelius”
John 3:16–21, “God loved the world so much”

Cantatas:

• Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut, BWV 173, 29 May 1724 Recitativo (tenor): Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut
  Aria (tenor): Ein geheiligtes Gemüte
  Aria (alto): Gott will, o ihr Menschenkinder
  Aria (soprano, bass): So hat Gott die Welt geliebt
  Aria (soprano, tenor): Unendlichster, den man doch Vater nennt
  Coro: Rühre, Höchster, unsern Geist(“Exalted flesh and blood”) Based movement for movement on a secular cantata (a tribute to Bach’s employer Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen, Durchlauchtster Leopold BWV 173a) that has been lost. Follows the readings for this day: “God loved the world so much,” and is a general praise for God’s goodness towards men. Starts with introductory recitative for tenor, followed by an elegant aria for the same. After a rather harsh alto aria follows the most interesting part of the cantata, a duet for soprano and bass with sweet strings and ethereal flutes. Three stanzas are treated in ever richer variations and the praise of the noble employer is effortlessly changed into praise of God. The music concludes with an uplifting chorus. (***)
• Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68, 21 May 1725 Chor: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt
  Arie S: Mein gläubiges Herze
  Rezitativ B: Ich bin mit Petro nicht vermessen
  Arie B: Du bist geboren mir zugute
  Chor: Wer an ihn gläubet, der wird nicht gerichtet(“Thus has God loved the world”) Short cantata framed by two austere choral movements. In contrast, the two arias are in a casual style – they are borrowed from the secular Hunt Cantata BWV 208 (another “praise of the ruler” piece). The first chorus is a stately siciliano. The soprano aria has an almost jolly cello accompaniment, and forms a great contrast to the previous chorus. The bass aria with three oboes is a rocking jig. The final chorus consists of a double fugue. (***)
• Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174, 6 June 1729 Sinfonia
  Arie A: Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte
  Rezitativ T: O Liebe, welcher keine gleich!
  Arie B: Greifet zu, Faßt das Heil, ihr Glaubenshände!
  Choral: Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr(“I love the Highest with my entire being”) Starts with an instrumental movement, an adaptation of the opening movement of the Third Brandenburg Concerto. For the rest, this, too, is a short cantata with only two arias and a final chorus. The long alto aria is an attractively lilting piece of music with a pastoral atmosphere, while the bass aria is accompanied by a beautiful string tune. (***)

You will recognize the opening movement in BWV 274 if you are a fan of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti! This one is short, sweet and to the point!

Christ, who art the bright light of day,
For You the night may not remain,
You enlighten us from the Father
and are the preacher of the light.

A number of years ago on Pentecost Sunday, I was in St. Peter and Paul Church in Weimar, Germany, looking at the magnificent altar painting by Lucas Cranach, Senior and Younger, that is the featured picture on this blog site, listening to one of Bach’s Pentecost Cantatas, during what was described by the congregation as a “Cantata Gottesdienst.” The pastor led a very simple order of prayer and preaching and used the Cranach altarpiece to illustrate his sermon. Pointing to it after his opening remarks in which he talked about what many people think Pentecost really is, he simply said, “That is Pentecost” then proceeded to explain the painting and pointed out Martin Luther in the painting. He concluded his sermon by reading, joyfully, Luther’s explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles Creed.

I’ve been reading theology for a long time, but I’ve never found anything as profoundly simple, powerful and true as Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed. Nothing better has ever been written by mere man on the meaning of the Holy Spirit and His work . On this day when we rejoice in the gift of the Holy Spirit and His continued comfort and outpouring on us through the Gospel, hear again what Pentecost is all about:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

–Martin Luther, Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed from The Small Catechism. (Wittenberg: 1530)

One of my favorite hymns is Martin Luther’s Come, Holy Ghost.

1. Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!
Be all Thy graces now out poured
On each believer’s mind and heart;
Thy fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Thy light,
Thou in the faith dost men unite
Of every land and every tongue;
This to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2. Thou holy Light, Guide Divine,
Oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!
Teach us to know our God aright
And call Him Father with delight.
From every error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be
That we in living faith abide,
In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3. Thou holy Fire, Comfort true,
Grant us the will Thy work to do
And in Thy service to abide;
Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart
And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

If you are interested in obtaining a first edition of the Book of Concord, from 1580, here’s your chance. Link.

The first volume of Luther’s Church Postil (sermons for the church year) will be out in July. This is the first English translation of Luther’s mature, and by far, the best, version of these sermons, which he personally approved of and helped edit from1540–1544. Until now, previous English translations were based on the faulty edition of Philipp Jakob Spener (1700), based on a deficient earlier version of the Postils. This is an extremely important contribution to Luther scholarship and for all preachers of the Gospel, of any particular denominational confession and for anyone interested in good, solid, Biblical faithful preaching of the Word of God.

More details will be provided as they become available.

Subscribers will automatically receive these volumes of the Church Postil at the lowest possible discount of 30% off.

What? What was that you said? You are not a subscriber?

Oh, egads, let me help you out.

Here’s the link where you can subscribe to the series.

I’m downsizing my library of printed books and…here you go! I’m selling all these on eBay, for the sheer convenience factor. If you are interested, or nobody somebody who might be, here is a list of what’s up for sale right now on eBay.

Works of Martin Chemnitz: Rare Book

First Latin/German Edition of the Book of Concord: Rare Book

Kittel Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

Lutheran Commentary on the New Testament, edited by Henry Eyster Jacobs

The Sunday Sermons of the Great Church Fathers

Greek-English Lexicon – BAGD – New Edition

A Reader’s Greek and Hebrew Bible

Lenski’s Commentary on the New Testament (owned by Dr. A.L. Barry, President of The LCMS)

The Ante-Nicene Fathers

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series

Analytical Key to the Old Testament (Four Large Volumes)

Our Great Heritage and Essays on Church Fellowship (Northwestern)

Complete Works of Josephus

Well, I’m back after a self-imposed hiatus, giving myself a nice long break from blogging. I’ve come back with some personal insights and conclusions firmly in place as a result of my blogging vacation. You’ll notice now on my blog, posts only about resources about Concordia Publishing House (the most awesome Lutheran publishing company in the whole wide world), and posts that focus attention on all the feasts, festivals, saints and commemorations in the Church Year. I’ve decided to bow out of debates, arguments, controversies, and all the drama that one easily can find elsewhere. Thanks for your words of encouragement and support!

What would you tell a person who is dying, about Jesus?

What would they need to hear?

Pastor Klemet Preus has published the letters he wrote to his father-in-law, Lloyd, when his father-in-law agreed to read the letters Klemet promised to write him, two a week, until his death. Turns out Lloyd lived eighteen more months and as a result, he received 92 letters from his son-in-law, Pastor Preus.

This new book titled, “WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR: Sharing Christ with Family and Friends” is, quite honestly, the finest collection of letters, written heart from heart, helping Lloyd sort through a lot of questions he had about God and about Christ and all matters of faith and life.

I know the phrase, “must read” is overused, but….if there was ever an appropriate time to say this is a “must read book” this is it.

Read more about “WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR” and pick up an excerpt from the book by visiting Concordia Publishing House’s web page for the book. It is now available both in print and in Kindle format.

For appropriate drum roll, click here.

Hey, everybody, just thought I’d pop back in and let you know that the Concordia Triglotta that I promised we would be making available again is now….well…available.

I have a copy right in front of me, and, it is very nice. It is a paperback, plain, simple, elegant and does a nice job opening and laying somewhat flat, it is in a sturdy glued binding. Sure, we could have done hardback, but…the spine would have cracked and broken and it was not economically possible to print a short run with a sewn binding, or, to put it more bluntly: you would have not wanted to pay what we would have to charge for that.

So, if you want a copy, you can now order one and you will receive it in four to six weeks, these are, quite literally, printed as an order is placed and are shipped directly to you from the printer. Keep in mind because these are print on demand, they can not be returned.

Click here to order a copy. They are $69.99. A flat rate of $8.50 covers shipping. It’s a heavy book!

Used copies on the Internet in very good conditions appear to start at around $150 and go up from there.

Delegates to this summer’s LCMS convention are receiving in the mail this week a new edition of the Augsburg Confession, the “Concordia Reader’s Edition.” It is available now for sale by individuals or congregations, with special bulk pricing.

You may place your order online at this address:
https://www.cph.org/p-22525-the-augsburg-confession-concordia-readers-edition.aspx?SearchTerm=augsburg+confession

Or, you may call our customer service center at 800-325-3040. Be sure to ask for item number: 531209 and be sure to mention the promotional code: QCO.

Individual copies are available now for $3.19. Select the media mail option for the least expensive shipping option. The best prices and shipping rates are available when purchasing these in quantity.

Use promotional code QCO on checkout screen to receive your discount.

This item qualifies for bulk purchase
10 to 24 only $3.39 each (15% discount)
25 to 49 only $3.19 each (20% discount)
50 to 99 only $2.99 each (25% discount)
100 to 249 only $2.79 each (30% discount)
250 to 999 only $2.39 each (40% discount)
1,000 or more only $2.00 each (50% discount)

The Augsburg Confession: The Concordia Reader’s Edition offers you the chance to read and study the Augsburg Confession in an edition designed with the lay reader in mind. You will find a comprehensive introduction and explanation of why, and how, the Augsburg Confession was written. Before each of the articles in the Confession, you will find a summary and explanation of technical terms and phrases that may appear in the article. This edition also features pictures of the key Lutheran laymen who were responsible for the Augsburg Confession, from Philip Melanchthon, the author, to John the Steadfast and George of Brandenburg, two brave Lutheran leaders who refused to compromise their trust in Christ, and insisted on boldly confessing it before the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.
The goal of this edition is to aid understanding and give you a fuller picture of the Augsburg Confession and why it remains, to this day, the most basic and fundamental of the Lutheran Confessions, as they are found in the Book of Concord. The Concordia Reader’s Edition of the Augsburg Confession is taken from the popular Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, the best selling edition of the Book of Concord in English.

Dear friend, thank you for your long and encouraging support for me and this blog site. I have enjoyed bringing you the notes, news, messages and other bits of information and inspiration that I have shared here over the years. But I have decided to take a hiatus from blogging. For how long? I don’t know, but it is going to be for a good long while.

I have several significant writing projects I am going to be pursuing for the foreseeable future and I’d like to devote myself to those without further demands on my time, in addition to my regular work load at CPH. Thanks for understanding.

I know many of you have “tuned in” here for news and information about new resources from Concordia Publishing House. I am still going to continue to share that  information, but from now on, my primary means of doing so is going to be from Concordia Publishing House’s Facebook page. You’ll find my posts there from now on.

I strongly encourage you, if you are not already, to add our Facebook page to your own and follow us there. When there is some new resource or something having to do with Concordia Publishing House that I know you will find interesting, I will post it there. So, again, be sure to like our page.

Click here to like the CPH Facebook page and follow us there.

Another great way to follow Concordia Publishing House and keep up with our latest publications is to sign up to receive our e-mail updates. We have hundreds of thousands of people on our lists and would love to add you.

Click here to sign up to receive regular e-mail updates from Concordia Publishing House.

Another way to keep up with what is new at Concordia Publishing House is to receive our press releases.

Click here to receive the latest press releases from CPH.