From December 17th onward, we shift into a higher gear in our Advent preparation for Christmas: it is the time of the "O Antiphons" which are used for the Magnificat at Evening Prayer in the Divine Office – as well as the "Alleluia Verse" of Daily Mass. Each "O" statement makes known a special title of the coming Messiah: Son of God and Son of Mary.
Today's "O" statement is O King of all nations, come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
The ones who need saving the most are the ones who think they do not need saving at all. These people need primarily to be saved from that very notion! No matter what kind of reality a person may invent for themselves – they probably would not include in it a need for redemption from what could keep them from an eternal form of happiness! They would simply invent a perfect reality of their own that would include this happiness!
But wishful thinking and script writing just may not measure up to an objective evaluation of the human situation: which needs salvation from without! Rather than having everyone invent his own salvation from a very real impossibility to enjoy eternal happiness without it – one salvation was willed for one group of people who would humbly welcome it and recognize it when once it came in their midst!
The one salvation has come from the One King of all nations, the true savior of the dust of the earth. In his sight all are equal, all stand in need of redemption, and all are to be equal recipients of his manifold gracious gifts! With Mary we cry out today: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior! He is coming to set us free from all that could interfere with our eternal happiness, life and peace! Amen! Amen!
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