Trinity 10: Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem
We Meditate on Holy Scripture
Jeremiah 8:4–12
or Jeremiah 7:1–11
Romans 9:30—10:4
or 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
Luke 19:41–48
We Pray
O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in showing mercy and pity. Mercifully grant us such a measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Summary of the Readings for Trinity 10
Our Lord wept over Jerusalem for the destruction that would soon come upon her. For she did not recognize the time of God’s visitation in Christ, who had come to bring her peace (Luke 19:41–48). Through His prophets God had consistently called His people to turn from their deceit and false worship. “But My people do not know the judgments of the Lord” (Jer. 8:4–12). They sought to establish their own righteousness rather than receive Christ’s righteousness through faith (Rom. 9:30–10:4). So it was that God was in His temple to cleanse it, a precursor to the once-for-all cleansing from sin which He would accomplish in the temple of His own body on the cross. God grant us to know the things that make for our peace—His visitation in the Word and Sacraments—that by the Holy Spirit we may penitently confess “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor. 12:1–11). Source.
Luther on the Gospel Reading for Trinity 10
There is no greater distress and calamity than when God sends us sects and false spirits, because they are so impudent and daringly bold, that they are really to be pitied. On the other hand the Word of God is such a great treasure, that no one can sufficiently comprehend its worth. For God himself considers his treasure immensely great, and when he visits us with his grace, he earnestly desires that we should gladly and freely accept it, and does not compel us as he is able to do, but it is his will that we should gladly obey it from choice and love. For he does not wait until we come to him, but he comes first to us. He comes into the world, becomes man, serves us, dies for us, rises again from the dead, sends us his Holy Spirit, gives us his Word, and opens heaven so wide that all men can enter; besides he gives us rich promises and assurances that he will care for us in time and in eternity, here and there, and pours out into our bosoms all the fulness of his grace. Therefore the acceptable time of grace is now at hand. Yet, we neglect it, and cast it to the winds, so that he will not and cannot give it to us. For when we fall and sin in other ways, he can better spare us and be lenient, he of course will spare us and forgive; but when we despise his Word, it calls for punishment, and he will also punish us, even if he delays a hundred years. But he will not wait that long. And the clearer the Word is preached the greater the punishment will be. I fear it will be the destruction of all Germany. Would to God I were a false prophet in this matter. Yet it will most certainly take place. God cannot permit this shameful disregard of his Word to go unpunished, nor will he wait long, for the Gospel is so abundantly proclaimed that it has never been as plainly and clearly taught since the days of the Apostles, as it is at present. God be praised! Hence it applies to Germany, as I fear it will be destroyed, unless we act differently.
Bach Cantatas for Trinity 10
46, 101, 102
BWV 46 – “Schauet doch und sehet”
Cantata for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity |
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| 1. Chor Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgendein Schmerz sei wie mein Schmerz, der mich troffen hat. Denn der Herr hat mich voll Jammers gemacht am Tage seines grimmigen Zorns. (Lamentations 1:12) |
1. Chorus Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like my sorrow, that has come upon me. For the Lord has made me full of anguish on the day of his wrathful anger. |
| 2. Rezitativ T So klage du, zerstörte Gottesstadt, Du armer Stein- und Aschenhaufen! Laß ganze Bäche Tränen laufen, Weil dich betroffen hat Ein unersetzlicher Verlust Der allerhöchsten Huld, So du entbehren mußt Durch deine Schuld. Du wurdest wie Gomorra zugerichtet, Wiewohl nicht gar vernichtet. O besser! wärest du in Grund verstört, Als daß man Christi Feind jetzt in dir lästern hört. Du achtest Jesu Tränen nicht, So achte nun des Eifers Wasserwogen, Die du selbst über dich gezogen, Da Gott, nach viel Geduld, Den Stab zum Urteil bricht. |
2. Recitative T Lament then, O destroyed city of God, you poor heap of stones and ashes! Let whole rivers of tears run, since you have been met with an irreplaceable loss of the highest favor; thus by your own fault must you be bereft. You were punished like Gomorrah, although not completely annihilated. O better! had you been razed to the ground, than to hear Christ’s enemies blaspheme in you now. You did not heed Jesus’ tears, now heed the tidal wave of passion that you have built up over yourself, for God, after much patience, breaks his staff in judgment. |
| 3. Arie B Dein Wetter zog sich auf von weiten, Doch dessen Strahl bricht endlich ein Und muß dir unerträglich sein, Da überhäufte Sünden Der Rache Blitz entzünden Und dir den Untergang bereiten. |
3. Aria B Your storm arose from far off, but at last this bolt has cracked and must be unbearable to you, for excessive sins ignite the lightning of vengeance and prepare your overthrow. |
| 4. Rezitativ A Doch bildet euch, o Sünder, ja nicht ein, Es sei Jerusalem allein Vor andern Sünden voll gewesen! Man kann bereits von euch dies Urteil lesen: Weil ihr euch nicht bessert Und täglich die Sünden vergrößert, So müsset ihr alle so schrecklich umkommen. |
4. Recitative A Yet do not imagine, o sinners, that Jerusalem alone above all others is full of sin! One can read out this judgment against you already: Since you do not improve yourselves, and daily your sins become greater, thus you will all perish as dreadfully. |
| 5. Arie A Doch Jesus will auch bei der Strafe Der Frommen Schild und Beistand sein, Er sammelt sie als seine Schafe, Als seine Küchlein liebreich ein; Wenn Wetter der Rache die Sünder belohnen, Hilft er, daß Fromme sicher wohnen. |
5. Aria A Yet Jesus will, even in punishment, be the shield and supporter of the righteous. He gathers them as his sheep, Lovingly, as his little chicks; when storms of vengeance reward sinners, He assures that the righteous live securely. |
| 6. Choral O großer Gott von Treu, Weil vor dir niemand gilt Als dein Sohn Jesus Christ, Der deinen Zorn gestillt, So sieh doch an die Wunden sein, Sein Marter, Angst und schwere Pein; Um seinetwillen schone, Uns nicht nach Sünden lohne. (“O großer Gott von Macht,” verse 9) |
6. Chorale O great God of faithfulness, since before you no one is worthy other than Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who calms Your anger, so look upon His wounds, His martyrdom, anguish, and heavy pain; and spare us, for his sake; do not repay us according to our sins. |
| Lamentations 1:12 (mov’t. 1); “O großer Gott von Macht,” verse 9: Mattäus Meyfart 1633 (movt. 6) | |
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©Pamela Dellal
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