DAILY REFLECTIONS “THE O OF ADVENT” DECEMBER 17-24

Page | 1 Advent and O Introduction

Advent. An opportunity for us to grow closer to the Lord. It is a season of the Church year that carries different meanings. It could well become the most fruitful time of the year of our spiritual lives with its nature of peace and calm, as a counter to the widespread commercialism that the secular world puts on the preparation for . Advent’s union of longing, joy, and holy seriousness may have a greater appeal to many a human heart than . During this season, nature is enveloped in mist and darkness. A symbol of Advent is the ever longer nights which may have a homey character which is conducive to enkindling the liturgical spirit of the season.

Advent in our Catholic tradition has carried a penitential nature for centuries. This stems back to the previous tradition that baptism was not only given at to those coming to the Christian faith in the early centuries, but it was also given around the Feast of the (then January 6th) which was also tied into the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. But, we also experience Advent as a time of hope and expectation. We look forward to the celebration of Jesus’ coming as a baby and then walking this earth as the Word Made Flesh. We invite Him into our hearts again and again to renew us and to help us better follow him each Christmas. And we look forward to his Second Coming at a time appointed by the Father. But with the many distractions in our lives, it requires extra effort for many of us to maintain the intended spirit of the season and thereby experience the spiritual blessings of its observance.

A key element of the Advent season is the second phase of Advent beginning on December 17th each year. Those days carry a special emphasis for our Advent preparation for Christmas. The Second Advent Preface is used at which mentions to us the special guides who will help us during this state: the Old Testament prophets, , and the Blessed Mother herself. In these masses, the first readings are the eight most famous Old Testament Messianic predictions. Each one of them speaks of One-to-come, of the future Anointed One: the .

From December 17 to 23, the liturgy uses seven short prayers that have special richness and importance. Known as the “O Antiphons” or the “Greater Antiphons,” these prayers compress and express the Old Testament Messianic hope for Christ. These antiphons are prayed each day at Evening Prayer, also called of the at the time of the praying of the . They are also used as the verse of the Advent Masses on those days. There is a unique antiphon associated with each of these calendar days. They add a mood of eager expectation to the liturgy that builds throughout these seven days and climaxes at Christmas.

Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:  December 17: O Wisdom of Our God Most High” or in “O Sapientia”  December 18: O Lord or in Latin “O Adonai”  December 19: O Root of or in Latin “O Radix Jesse”  December 20: O Key of or in Latin “O Clavis David”  December 21: O Radiant Dawn// or in Latin “O Oriens”  December 22: O King of the Nations or in Latin “O Rex Gentium”  December 23: O God With Us or O Emmanuel

The exact origin of the "O Antiphons" is not known. The unknown author of the “O Antiphons” knew and loved the Bible, and saw Christ in His Old Testament background. So the antiphonist gives good example for our Advent spirit. Writings reference to their presence in the sixth century. Page | 2 At the Benedictine Fleury Abbey in France, these antiphons were prayed by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they were in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the "O Antiphons" have been part of Western liturgical tradition since the very early Church. The O Antiphons are not unique to our Catholic tradition. They are frequently prayed or sung in the in the Anglican Church, , or Episcopal Church in the same manner as our Catholic tradition. Use of the O Antiphons also occurs in many Lutheran and some Presbyterian churches. Many of us are probably most familiar with the O Antiphons from the traditional , “O Come, O Come Emanuel” which is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.

Whether by intent or by chance, the antiphons are arranged in an anthological style or order. If one starts with the last title “Emmanuel” in Latin and takes the first letter of each other Latin antiphon in reverse order, it forms the Latin words- “ero cras”. In Latin this means, “Tomorrow, I will come". Therefore Jesus, whose coming Christians have prepared for in Advent and whom they have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to them: "Tomorrow, I will come." So the "O Antiphons" not only bring intensity to the Advent preparation, but also bring it to a joyful conclusion.

Let us begin to reflect on these antiphons to find what meaning the Holy Spirit may want for each of us this evening for our Advent of 2015.

All sing: O Come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 3 First Antiphon – (December 17) - O Wisdom of our God Most High or O Sapientia

The first antiphon, “O Wisdom of our God Most High”. Opening Prayer: O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Reflection: The presence of God’s wisdom is very prominent in the scriptures. prophesies in the 11th chapter, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” Later in the first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul says, “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” The Son, the 2nd person of the Trinity, is Eternal. There was never a time when He was not. Through Him all things were made. Through Him order was given to the chaos we hear about in Genesis. Thus, the marvelous and sweet order we observe in the universe is due to the eternal wisdom of the eternal Word. That same well-ordering eternal Word is the Word made flesh, who dwells among us with His coming birth at . In this "O Antiphon", we are drawn into the Old Testament's wisdom literature in particular. Wisdom is a divine attribute. Wisdom is also something which we deeply desire as a human attribute. We acknowledge though that authentic human wisdom is never separated from a relationship with God. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom or restated in perhaps some more contemporary terms, an awesome respect for God, wonder and awe in God’s presence. We understand that wisdom is more than mere knowledge. It is something more than love. It is something more than just a special astuteness regarding how to get along in life. Rooted as it is in fear of the Lord, true human wisdom is both love and that knowledge of God that seeks to understand, the knowledge that is completed by walking with God in the experience of life, in faith. The Prologue of St. John's Gospel refers to the "..the Word made flesh". He is the divine ... the eternal thought/word/reason. Through Him all things were made. Without Him nothing can be. So, the New Testament image in the Prologue of St. John brings to completion the imagery of Wisdom. All things are ordered in and to Him, the Word. Our individual private lives and our collective lives in larger society must have structure and order. They must be disposed in such a way that the real and genuine good of all is fostered and promoted.

Meditation: Take a few minutes in silence to think about ways or reasons that you might need Wisdom in your life. Perhaps there is a need to ask Jesus to be the One to bring order to a certain part of your life. Ask the Wisdom of God to guide and teach you….

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high, And order all things far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Second Antiphon (December 18) - O Lord or O Adonai Page | 4 The Second Antiphon, O Lord or O Adonai.

Opening prayer: O Lord, Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

Reflection: The title of God as Lord is ingrained into the Old Testament worship and reverence for God. The prophet Isaiah says in the 11th chapter, “But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips." And later in Chapter 33,” LORD, be gracious to us; for you we wait. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of trouble.” The Hebrew, “Adonai" is "LORD." It was the Hebrew word that the Jews used when they found the four-lettered word for God's name which they held to be too sacred to pronounce aloud. Christ is Lord of Creation. Christ is also Lord of the Covenant with the People He chose. The Lord made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses. He guided them and all the People. He gave them the Law. He protected and fed them. The Lord delivered them from bondage to Pharaoh and unending slavery. He went before them with arm outstretched. This was all a pre-figuring of the great work of redemption that Christ would work on the Cross. He redeemed us His People from the power of Satan and his empty promises that lead to sin and darkness. He is the focus of our liturgical celebration of Christmas. He will appear again one day in the future to judge the living and the dead. He still goes before us with outstretched arm, and our foes are put to flight at the sight of His banner. Love of the Law of Moses was something which was cherished by many in Jesus’ time and is still appreciated by many today. Jesus showed us that the Law is a good thing and something we need, but to not let the Law hinder our ability to serve the Lord whenever we are called to do so. In the 5th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” Let us look to Adonai to lead us this Advent and to reveal to us the wisdom of His law.

Meditation: Take a few minutes now in silence to reflect on Jesus as Lord. How do you allow Jesus to be Lord in your life? How do you hold the law of Adonai? Take a moment to reflect on how the Lord is calling you to Him…

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, o come, Thou Lord of might, Who to thy tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times did give the law, In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 5 Third Antiphon (December 19) – O Root of Jesse or O Radix Jesse

The Third Antiphon, O Root of Jesse.

Opening Prayer: O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

Reflection: Images from nature in scripture are certainly something to which we can relate. How many of us have seen a tree upended after a violent storm and flood where we see the tremendous root system of the tree revealed to us. In the 11th chapter of Isaiah, the prophet tells us, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. Also later in the chapter, “On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the peoples— Him the nations will seek out; his dwelling shall be glorious.” The prophet had also prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, then the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall take his place as shepherd by the strength of the LORD, by the majestic name of the LORD, his God, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth.” What urgency there is with this antiphon, “save us without delay”. Something that lies below the earth (a root) stands high unto the heavens like a banner! the Tree of our salvation without roots never to be shaken. Isaiah gives us good imagery for our reflection. The great prophet of Advent told that the kingdom of David would be destroyed, but not entirely destroyed. A root would remain. Jesse is David's father. David is Jesse's root. Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, David leads to Christ. In the New Testament, the Book of Revelation tells us in the 5th Chapter, “One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David,* has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” Tonight and on December 19th when this antiphon is prayed, let us reflect on how we are rooted in our lives. Does our spiritual growth stem from Jesus? The secular world can present us with distractions and empty promises, both of which do not stem from the Root of Jesse. However as Christians, we have the confidence that no matter what the trials of life present to us, clinging to Jesus will make us victorious in the end.

Meditation: Let’s take a few minutes in silence to reflect on how we are each rooted in our lives. Do you seek Jesus for your spiritually rooting? Are you fed through his Word? Is there something you want to change?…. At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem, From ev'ry foe deliver them. That trust Thy mighty power to save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 6 Fourth Antiphon (December 20): O Key of David or O Clavis David The Fourth Antiphon, O Key of David. Opening Prayer: O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

Reflection: Which one of us has never unlocked a door or perhaps even been frustrated when a lock does not open. In the 22nd Chapter, Isaiah prophesies, “I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one will shut, what he shuts, no one will open.” Later in the 42nd chapter, he shares, “I, the LORD, have called you for justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” The people of the Old Testament so longed for the Messiah who would free them from their trials, oppression, and darkness. In the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, in speaking to Peter, reminds us that He holds the keys to God’s kingdom when he says to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” What solace there is with this antiphon. The assurance that Jesus opens the gates of the Kingdom and can set all people free who are held back in bondage or darkness. Lazarus likely understood this. When he died and his body was bound and put in the tomb, he was tied up in darkness. But Jesus’ action brought him back to life, unloosened the things that bound him up, and gave him new life. He truly knew that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life and that all who believe in Him will live. When the Lord died on His Cross and rose again, He ransomed "captive Israel", the new "Israel", those who belong to Him in His new covenant. Christ continues to set humankind free. He can set you free every time we go to him with our woes and worries and every time we go to him with a contrite heart about our failings in life. The Church also provides us with a gift in the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us to take advantage of the opportunity to be set free through Christ’s authority to forgive.

Meditation: Let us now take a few minutes in silence to reflect on how we seek Jesus as the Key of God’s eternal kingdom. Do you believe that He can unlock the things that bind you or hold you back? What might you ask Jesus to unlock for you?....

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home, Make safe the way that leads on high, That we no more have cause to sigh. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 7 Fifth Antiphon (December 21): O Radiant Dawn or O Oriens The fifth antiphon, O Radiant Dawn. Opening Prayer: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Reflection: O Radiant Dawn or in some translations, O Morning Star, O Dayspring, or O Rising Sun. Many of us have witnessed a sunrise. We have seen how complete darkness is gradually transformed from what seemed to be an impenetrable night into complete brightness and warmth. We hear in , “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.” In the 60th chapter, Isaiah prophesies, “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you. Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples, upon you the LORD will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen.” In the 3rd chapter, we hear the prophet Malachi say, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings; and you will go out leaping like calves from the stall.” Later in the New Testament, we hear St. Peter refer to Christ as the Our Dawn when he says in the 1st chapter of his 2nd letter, “Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” We are all in need of a Redeemer who can enlighten the darkness of our sins and failings and the numbing distractions of this world. Jesus brings clarity and light back to our lives through his Word, the sacraments, and fellow believers. In the ancient Church, Christians would face "East", the direction of the rising sun, at least symbolically, so that they could greet the Coming of the Savior, both in the consecration of the Eucharist and in the expectation of the glorious return of the King of Glory. They turned to the rising sun who is Justice Itself, whose light will lay bare the truth of our every word, thought and deed. How appropriate that this antiphon is prayed on the day that is usually the day of the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the least daylight of the year. From this point onward, we benefit from increasing warmth and illumination. It is as if God in His Wisdom, provided reminders in nature for us to grasp something of His good plan for our salvation.

Meditation: Let us now reflect for a few minutes on how Christ shines in our own lives. Are there parts of your life where He can shine to dispel the darkness? For whom might you be a light to others? Who is Christ sending to be a light to you?...

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadow put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 8 Sixth Antiphon (December 22) – O King of All Nations or O Rex Gentium The 6th Antiphon, O King of All Nations. Opening Prayer: O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save humankind, whom you formed from the dust!

Reflection: The image of a king may be a challenge to identify with, for people with long- standing traditions of not having a functional monarchy and valuing representative government. We value our freedoms and rights and avoid ultimate power into one person. However in Chapter 9, Isaiah prophesies, “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” Anyone is familiar with building construction is aware of the importance of a cornerstone or keystone to provide a firm and unshakeable foundation for construction that will support indefinite use. In the 21st chapter of Matthew, Jesus refers to himself and quotes Psalm 118 when he says, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? In the 2nd chapter, St. Paul shares about Our Keystone in his letter to the Ephesians, “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” And in the 15th chapter of the Book of Revelation, St.John shares about Jesus’ kingship in his vision, “and they sang the song of Moses,* the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations.” The earlier antiphons have already alluded to the Messiah coming not only to Israel but to convert the gentile nations and redeem them for his own. Now this sixth antiphon clearly addresses the savior as the king of the nations and the Desired One of the nations. The Messiah is the cornerstone on whom our spiritual foundations are laid. This cornerstone unites and binds Jew and gentile into one. The plea is that God save all humanity, all his creation that he formed from the dust of the earth. We yearn for him once again to breathe the breath of his new life into us. Having Christ as our king does not take away our free will to continue to choose him and His way, and it frees us greatly to know that He is in control. He always has our best interests in mind and those of the whole world. He is the foundation that will forever support the faith.

Meditation: Let us reflect for a few minutes in silence on Jesus Christ, King of all nations. What areas of your life might you still want to “rule”? How can you let go to allow Jesus to give you new freedom by Him ruling your life? …

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of humankind; Bid every strife and quarrel cease And fill the world with heaven's peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 9 Seventh Antiphon (December 23) - O God With Us or O Emmanuel

The seventh antiphon, O Emmanuel. Opening Prayer: O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Reflection: For those of us who have spent any regular time in church activities, the title Emmanuel is very familiar. It is widely used to name some churches, especially in more Protestant congregations, and it is a central title for Jesus in our celebration of Advent. The prophet Isaiah says to us in the 7th chapter, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him ." Isaiah further tells us in Chapter 33, “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he it is who will save us.” In his account of the Birth of Jesus, St. Matthew reminds us of the Old Testament prophesy about Jesus in this way, ““Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” How does each of us relate to this title? What does it mean to us that God is with us? Our God is a personal God, there to be our constant companion. God seeks to be a part of all of our life, not just to be available when we believe we need God. We are reminded that God is not removed from the daily happenings of daily life or the activities of this world, but is really a part of it. But not all welcome him into those activities and events. Jesus is really present in our lives, even after his physical ascension into heaven. With this last antiphon our expectation finds joy now in the certainty of fulfillment. We call Jesus by one of the most personal and intimate of his titles, Emmanuel, God-with-us. We recall that in his birth from the Virgin Mary, God takes on our very flesh and human nature: God coming nearer to us than we could have ever imagined! Yet he is also to be exalted above us as our king, the lawgiver and judge, the one whom we honor and obey. And He is our savior, long-expected by all creation. The final cry rises from us, urgent in our need for daily salvation and forgiveness of our sins, and confident that our God will not withhold himself from us.

Meditation: Let us reflect for a few minutes in silence on Jesus as Emmanuel. Can you see Jesus present in your life? How can you sharpen your spiritual vision to see Him present regularly? Are there ways you can welcome Him even more as your constant companion?...

At the close of your meditation, sing or pray: O Come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Page | 10 Day (December 24)

Gospel Reading (Matthew 16:13-17)

Reflection: When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood* has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

Meditation: Please take a minutes to silently reflect on this Gospel reading and the seven names we have called Jesus in the O Antiphons which we have experienced over the past seven days. Which antiphon resonated the most with you? Reflect on why this may have resonated with you the most and how this may be an area for further prayer, study or reflection, or something the Lord is calling you to do in the coming Christmas season and calendar year.

Action: Find someone to share your reflections during these days and challenge each other to follow through with the prayer, further study, or action that God has revealed to you. Report back to each other later on your follow-up.

Closing Prayer Intercessions

Intercession: With confidence let us call upon Christ, the shepherd and guardian of our souls to draw near to us as we close this Advent season. To the following prayer petitions, please respond “Come, Lord Jesus”. O Wisdom of our God Most High, gather all into your Church and guide us, ….. We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: Our Lord, Adonai, Leader of Ancient Israel, help the shepherds of your pilgrim people, until you come again may they zealously feed your flock… We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: O Root of of Jesse, come to free us without delay and choose from among us heralds of your Word, to proclaim your Gospel and bear much fruit to the ends of the earth… We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: O Key of David, unlock the chains which bind us and keep us from fully following you. Take pity on all who struggle and fall along the way and may they find us to be your instruments to free them… We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: O Radiant Dawn, show your glory in heaven and earth, to those who listen to your voice and help us shine your light in our hearts to the world around us…We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus Page | 11 Intercession: O King of All Nations, rule our hearts during this Advent and Christmas season so we may focus on you as the reason for the season…We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: O Emmanuel, be with us to end all acts of violence in our nation and in our world…We pray Response: Come, Lord Jesus

Intercession: Please add your own personal intentions.

Conclusion

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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