Come Into The Word with Sarah Christmyer | Bible Study | Lectio Divina | Journals | Retreat

  • About
  • Blog
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact

LONGING FOR JESUS: Advent’s “O Antiphons”

December 20, 2016 By Sarah Christmyer Leave a Comment

Every time we see our granddaughter, the first minutes are taken up with a clamor of voices. “Good morning! How’s my little poppet?” “Hi Sweetness, hello Sunshine. “How’s the pretty baby?” Grown-up faces crowd around her, smiling, praising her red cheeks, her new tooth, the way she waves. Instinctively, we use the high sing-song of baby talk. And we rarely use her real name. Instead, we out-do one another in nicknames that get at her sweetness and the indescribable joy we feel in her presence.

I thought of that yesterday as we said the Alleluia verse at mass:

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sing of God’s love for all his people: Come to save us without delay!

o-root-of-jesse1It anticipates that evening’s “O Antiphon,” which calls out to the “Root of Jesse’s stem” — Jesus — to hurry and deliver us. Tonight, our cry is “O Key of David … come and lead to freedom the prisoner who sits in darkness!” For seven days leading to Christmas, the entire Church cries out to Jesus to hurry and save us. Each time, we use a different name that highlights a different aspect of his mercy and love. The names draw on Old Testament images of messianic hope:

December 17: O Wisdom of our God Most High

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly.  Come, and teach us the way of prudence!

December 18: O Leader of the House of Israel

O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him your law.  Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us!

December 19: O Root of Jesse’s stem

O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the peoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse.  Come, save us, and do not delay!

December 20: O Key of David

O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens.  Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

December 21: O Radiant Dawn

O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of Eternal Light and Sun of Justice: come and shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

December 22: O King of all nations

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one.  Come, and save man whom you fashioned out of clay!

December 23: O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their Savior.  Come and save us, O Lord our God!

+ + + + + + +

The One we yearn for has been longed for and expected and foretold for generations. He came 2,000 years ago as a baby in a manger. And in a few days he’ll come to us again, pink cheeked and wrapped in his mother’s loving arms, filled with promise and hope.

As I think of the way we greet our grandbaby, this outpouring of names awakens in me a desire for Christ. It opens my eyes to WHO this long-expected baby is. I, like Israel of old, need saving. I need light and freedom and the security of someone strong WITH ME.  Emmanuel, “God with us,” come without delay!

© 2016 Sarah Christmyer

Read more about the O Antiphons here

 test

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days Tagged With: Advent/Christmas

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 characters available

Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

Search Come Into The Word

Categories

Recent Posts

  • PSALMS FOR LENT: Find GRACE in the Penitential Psalms
  • ADD SCRIPTURE TO YOUR LENTEN DIET
  • TRUST IN GOD; HE’S GOT YOUR BACK
  • FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS
  • FOCUSING ON THE CHRIST CHILD with the O Antiphons
  • THANKSGIVING PSALMS: Drowning grief in gratitude

Archives

Recommended

  • Integrated Catholic Life – Catholic blogs and resources
  • Lux App and Lux University – online faith hub for women
  • Peter Kreeft – featured writings and audio
  • The Sacred Page (Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid) – blog
  • Scripture Speaks (Gayle Somers) – commentary on the Mass readings
  • Speaking of Scripture (Mary Healy, Daniel Keating, Peter Williamson, et al) – blog
  • Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) – women’s ministry, book club, blog

 

We engage in affiliate marketing whereby we receive funds through clicks to our affiliate program through this website. This disclosure is intended to comply with the US Federal Trade Commission Rules on marketing and advertising, as well as any other legal requirements which may apply.

 

Let’s Connect

mailfacebook instagram pinterest

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

MENU

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 Come into the Word LLC | Site designed by Cynthia Oswald

  • About
  • Blog
    △
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    △
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    △
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact