O Radix: O Root of Jesse - December 19

O Radix: O Root of Jesse

Tonight the third of the O Antiphons is recited as we call on Jesus to come, his kingship is prophesized and fulfilled from the Root of Jesse who is King David’s father. A king is promised to ‘sprout from the stump’ of King David’s family tree, and a ‘bud shall blossom’ coming to fulfillment in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Our Adonai, Lord from last night is at the same time man with flesh and blood and he came to us at the first Christmas and he is coming again. We have been grafted to His Root, the Root of Jesse, in our Baptism. In order for our graft to grow it must remain moist with baptismal water. Jesus draws everyone to himself so be sober and vigilant for He Is the Vine, and through his grace, we are the branches, come quickly to deliver us Lord Jesus.

O Radix

O Root of Jesse

who stands for an ensign before the people,

before whom kings are mute and to whom the nations will do homage:

Come quickly to deliver us,

This antiphon is based on the following scripture:

Isaiah 11:1-2 “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.”

Isaiah 11-10 "On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious."

Isaiah 52:13 “See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.”

Isaiah 52:15 “So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.”

Isaiah 53:2 “He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.” (only God appreciated Jesus’ true greatness)

Psalms 72:8-11 “May his foes kneel before him, his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.”

Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

John 12:31-32 “Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Latin

Veni, O Iesse virgula,

ex hostis tuos ungula,

de spectu tuos tartari

educ et antro barathri.

English

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.

From the Splendor of Truth,





Blessed Advent Season
Lynn's Timeless Treasures 

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Art
The Jesse Tree by Jan Mostaert

O Adonai: O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel - December 18

O Adonai: O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel

Today is the second of the O Antiphons, O Adonai, Hebrew for Lord. Out of reverence, devout Jews substituted Adonai for the name of Yahweh, YHWH, The Great I AM. 

As Moses approached the burning bush, so we must approach the Divine Savior.  He comes to us at Christmas as a child and every day at Mass, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity,  in the Consecrated Host.  We should  fall upon our knees and put off the shoes from our feet, for this place is Holy Ground.....we are in the presence of The Great I Am. Come Lord with outstreached hands to redeem us, Your sons and daughters, Your creation.  Show us Your will, give us the grace to follow Your Truth, Your Wisdom and Your Way. Come O Lord, Come.

O Adonai

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel,

Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush

and gave him the Law on Sinai:

come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

This antiphon is based on the follwing scripture:

Exodus 3:2 There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush.  As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed.

Exodus 3:5 God said, "Come no nearer! remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

Exodus 3:13-14 But, said Moses to God, when I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you,  if they ask me, What is his name? What am I to tell them? God replied, I am who am. Then he added,This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.

Exodus 6:6 Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians and will deliver you from their slavery.  I will rescue you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Latin

Veni, veni, Adonai,

qui populo in Sinai

legem dedisti vertice

in maiestate gloriae

English

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.

 

Blessed Advent Season

Lynn's Timeless Treasures 

______________________

Art

Moses and the Burning Bush

Attributed to Dirk Bouts

O Sapientia: O Wisdom - December 17

Christmas Octave

During the final week of Advent between December 17 and December 23rd, the Church observes the custom of praying each day one of the seven “O Antiphons”. These refer to the seven antiphons recited before and after the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. Incorporated into the monastic life during the Middle Ages this practice builds our excitement and expectation during the final days leading to Christmas and the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Each antiphon emphasizes a title for the Messiah and refers to a prophecy on the coming of the Messiah. They progress historically from the beginning of time, through the messianic prophecies of Israel, ending with the Incarnation and birth of Christ. Each O Antiphon follows the same structure, beginning with an invocation of the expected Messiah using a title given to Our Lord, followed by praise, and ending with a plea for him to “Come”.

The seven titles given to Jesus in the antiphons are Wisdom (Sapientia in Latin), Ruler of the House of Israel (Adonai), Root of Jess (Radix), Key of David (Clavis), Rising Dawn (Oriens), King of the Gentiles (Rex), and Emmanuel. Each Latin initial combines to form SARCORE, which when arraigned backward spells the Latin phrase ERO CRAS meaning “I will be with you tomorrow.” And that He will, at Christms Vigil.........

Today, the O Antiphons are familiar to us because of the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” with each verse paralleling the antiphon. So tonight with the first O Antiphon, O Wisdom, we begin the final phase of preparation for Christmas.

O Sapientia

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High.

Pervading and permeating all creation,

mightily ordering all things:

come and teach us the way of prudence.

This antiphon is based on the following scripture:

Sirach 24:3”From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and mist like covered the earth.”

Wisdom 8:1 “Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.”

Wisdom is a divine attribute, present with God at the beginning of creation. Jesus is eternal; there was never a time when He was not. Through Him (as the Creed states) all things were made. Wisdom is a prefigurement of Jesus, the eternal Word of God, or the “logos” as Saint John states in John 1:1. Wisdom will teach us prudence, how to live our life with discretion and in holiness. Wisdom will teach us to follow the will of God.

Verse from

O Come O Come Emmanuel

O come, O Wisdom from on high,

who orders all things mightily,

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go.

Zoltán Kodály L'Accorche-Choeur

Blessed Advent Season
Lynn's Timeless Treasures 

Guadete Sunday

3rd Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

The Catholic Church celebrates two “joyful” Sundays: today, the third Sunday of Advent or Guadete, Latin for “rejoice” and the fourth Sunday of Lent or Laetare, also Latin for “rejoice.” Today’s readings are truly filled with joy reminding us that religion does not always have to be somber in fact the NAB uses the word joy, 219 times while words to describe sadness or somber are used only 24 times.

So as we continue to wait for the Nativity of Our Lord, “Shout with joy…be glad and exult with all your heart.” (Zephaniah 3:14) “Rejoice...The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5) And be wary not to be mislead, but always to follow the right lead as we are reminded by John the Baptist in today's Gospel, who always points us to Christ.

First Reading Book of the Prophet Zephaniah 3:14-18

Responsorial Psalm cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy one of Israel

Second Reading Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel According to Luke 3:10-18