When my brother’s first-born came to the monastery as a toddler, he wobbled into the Dining Room and saw the cart with all the breakfast cereal on it. There had to have been half a dozen large plastic containers filled with different types – flakes, granola, some kind of bran. And then he saw it, “Look Mama…O’s!” The little guy had never seen so many Cheerios in his life. I’ll never forget the way his eyes sparkled. Pointing one tiny finger at the mother-load of snacking pleasure, he embodied “joy” – the full-body experience of delight. “Look, Mama…O’s!
His childlike excitement mirrors my own when we reach December 17th – the “O Antiphons.” These antiphons help us to with our countdown to the feast of the Nativity. Each evening as the sun sets, the antiphon is sung with the Magnificat – the traditional evening hymn found in Luke’s infancy narrative. Each night – for seven days – we proclaim a new title for our little Messiah and bid him “come.”
December 17
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
December 18
O Adonai,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
December 19
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
December 20
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
December 21
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.
December 22
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
Today, we sing, “O Adonai,” which translates to Lord or leader. It was the name the Israelites used for God. [The name of God given to Moses before the burning bush – YHWH – is too sacred to speak aloud.] To call the Messiah “Adonai” is to claim divine nature itself. The God Moses encountered – the great “I AM” – is the God who chooses our flesh and bone – makes the death-defying leap into our skin at Bethlehem.
After the Messiah is named – given a title that links his person to the promise to Israel – we bid him “come.” “Come rescue us with your mighty power!” The invitation is critical. We must open the door of the heart. Christ will knock, most certainly, but he will never break it down. Our brave statement of faith in him demands brave action. “Come…”
The “O Antiphons” give us the heads-up. Christmas is coming…Christ is coming…here and now, and, at the last. They offer us the opportunity for meditation, for gratitude and for a glimpse of the big picture of salvation – God’s work in time for our blessing. If you have never prayed these antiphons before, welcome them into your Christmas preparations. Read them each evening with Mary’s song. Look for symbols of the antiphons or draw them yourself if art is your way to God. Search iTunes for sung versions of the “O Antiphons” from different monasteries. [It was in a Benedictine monastery that the antiphons were listed backwards so that the first letter of each would vertically spell, ero cras – Latin for, “Tomorrow, I will come.”] Integrating these ancient prayers into your devotions will add to your Christmas joy. Then, year after year, you will await their coming as I do with holy longing. “Look…the O’s!”
Advent joy and love to you all…
Vicki
God is Always More 