O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power. Today we recall the second of the “O Antiphons” preserved by the Church as a particular way to prepare for Christmas. For each of seven days before Christmas a special antiphon for the Magnificat at Vespers was sung which concerned both the announcement of a title of the Messiah, and reflected an Old Testament prophecy about him. These antiphons began with the word “O” - thus “O Antiphon.”
Today the title is “Leader of the House of Israel!” We ask the God who showed his magnificence and power to Moses at the burning bush to come and save us from what we need saving from!
The prophecy is this from Isaiah: “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us.”
The first reading today from the Prophet Jeremiah also speaks of the name of the coming Messiah as “The Lord our justice!” - With a mighty hand and outstretched arm he will restore land to his displaced family!
The gospel passage reminds us that the birth of Jesus is near; we still have time to open our hearts wide to receive him this year like no other year! May we experience “God-is-with-us” truly, deeply and really! Then, justice will flourish in our time, and fullness of peace forever!
No comments:
Post a Comment