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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Advent 1 Yr C
O Come . . .
O Come . . .
Thoughts on Advent and the O Antiphons
Thoughts on Advent and the O Antiphons
Advent, the time of year when all of nature is enveloped in mist and darkness, is the first season of the Church year, the season in which we, like all of creation, look for and long for the light. It calls us to engage in practices, rituals, and opportunities that bring us out of our personal dark spots into closer relationship with the Lord of Light. With its gentle, calm, and soulful mood, it counters the widespread commercialism of the secular world.
Like Lent, Advent has a somber, contemplative aspect, but Advent is predominantly about preparation—for the coming of the Incarnate Lord at Christmas and the future return of Christ in glory—and Lent is predominantly about penitence—turning our misdirections around and returning to The Way. Lent is a tearing down; Advent is a building up—the heart’s foundation for the miracle of Christmas.
This is where the O Antiphons, verses among the oldest and most poetic of the Western liturgy, come in. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, December 17–23.
Originally written in Latin in the seventh or eighth century, these seven antiphons comprise verses extracted from the Old Testament prophets—namely, Isaiah—that express the longing for the coming of the Christ. The word “Come” is used in every O Antiphon. In the nineteenth century, verses from the antiphons were compiled by an Anglican priest into the hymn we know today as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
The importance of O Antiphons is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah and each one refers to Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah’s coming.
A rendering of the seventh and last O Antiphon, for December 23: "O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Saviour of all people, come and set us free, Our God." (Painting from a series by Sr. Ansgar Holmberg, available at https://goodgroundpress.com/article/advent-names-of-god-3/ and https://goodgroundpress.com/product/o-antiphons-posters/.)
This year try praying the O Antiphons or using them in a family setting. Their power to enrich the Advent experience is (at least) threefold: the word “O” emphasizes the sense of desire that surrounds these prayers and, as well, the deep longing in our hearts; the verses, with their different titles for the Messiah, help open our eyes to who this God-Man Jesus is; and each antiphon asks Jesus not just to come but also to bring us more mindfully and more deeply into the kingdom he envisioned for us some two thousand years ago.
© 2021 Peggy van Antwerp Hill
O Sapientia
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Listen to a version of "O Sapientia" in the style of Hildegard de Bingen.
O Adonai
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
Listen to a version of "O Adonai" in the style of ancient monks.
O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
Listen to a version of "O Radix Jesse" in ethereal choral style.
O Clavis David
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Listen to a version of "O Clavis David" in plainsong style.
O Oriens
O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Listen to "O Oriens" sung by gifted group of female singers.
O Rex Gentium
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.
Listen to "O Rex Gentium" by choral voices The Sixteen
O Emmanuel—O God with us:
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Listen to "O Emmanuel" by BYU Singers
[See Latin text on Wikipedia.]
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
From sermon4kids.com: “As we look forward to Christmas day, we also look forward to the day when Jesus will come again. Today we light the candle of hope on our advent wreath. Just as the people of Israel found hope in the promises of God, we find hope in Jesus’ promise that he will come again.”
Scripture: November 28, 2021—Jeremiah 33:14-16 (image); Psalm 25:1-9 (image); 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (image); and Luke 21:25-36 (image).
Collect: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection: Even in the midst of trouble and turmoil, God allows us glimpses of the kingdom to come. What signs of promise do you see that bolster your hope in a new heaven and a new earth?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Drawing Near” by Jan Richardson
Anselm Kiefer, "Tree of Life"
“Tomorrow I may be far away” by Romare Bearden
“A Natural Refuge” on Mount Meron in Israel by Neta Bartal, 201
Music founded
in the scripture
“One candle“ by Andy Beck, sund by Sacred Heart Choir
“One Candle” by Sia, featuring J Ralph
“Wait for the Lord“, Taize community
Other voices
about the scripture
Commentary about the Jeremiah lesson, by Lynn Miller
“Is today ‘the day’?“, a reflection by Lynn Miller
Candle of Hope
Christ we sit in darkness, but you are our light. We long for your coming into our hearts, into our lives and into our world. You are the One for whom all the peoples of the earth wait. Our world has been shaken by fire and earthquake and storm; Our security has been shaken by bombings and wars and uncertainty.
We wait in anticipation expecting God’s light to penetrate our darkness and radiate within us.
In the midst of our doubts and our insecurities we are reminded that you are never shaken. Your faithfulness reaches to the ends of the earth.
We watch and wait expecting new light to shine as the season of joy approaches.
You are our rock and our refuge, an ever present help in trouble. Come down, come in, walk with us so that we trust in you and not be shaken.
We wait in hope attentive to all the signs of Christ’s coming.
Excerpted from Life in Liturgy website.
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“The Truman show” (1998, PG), “An insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show”, Review
“Star Trek: Generations” (1994, PG), “time is the companion on the journey”, Review
Special Note: Jan Richardson, a gifted leader and multimedia artist, is not offeringa special Advent retreat this year. Instead, she invites you to use (or re-use) Night Visions (available here or get from Amazon). This book is great for solo meditations as well as for groups. Richardson's Advent retreat will re-start in 2025.
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide); group activities; sing “Wait for the Lord“, kid video.
For all ages: coloring page;
For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin
For youth: The season of Advent begins. Advent is a time of anticipation of the birth of Jesus, at least our celebration of it. Advent is supposed to be a time of reflection and meditation about what the birth of Jesus actually means (and it's a really big deal). However, in our daily lives we are so bombarded with Christmas decorations and preparations that we often forget to reflect on what it all means. How will you "watch" for the coming Christ this week? Comments welcome.
On the first Sunday in Advent, the liturgy is concerned with our preparation for the return of Christ at the end of time. The Gospel reading today is a portion of Jesus’ words concerning that time. He tells us to see the events of history as signs of the approaching end and to recognize that end as the coming of our redemption.
The Old Testament reading today from the prophet Jeremiah looks forward to the time when God will fulfill the promise of a successor to David. The New Testament Christians understood the “righteous Branch” of David’s line to be our Lord Jesus Christ.
The second reading is from Paul’s first Thessalonian letter. His letters to that church were prompted by difficulties in that congregation due to their misunderstanding of the Lord’s promise to return. In today’s reading, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to see their ministry and mutual love as the way to prepare for the Lord’s return.
There is an “already, but not yet” aspect to the New Testament’s discussion of the Lord’s return. God’s kingdom is not limited to a time in the far off future; it began breaking into human history in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Lord comes to judge and to save in each moment in the life of his people. Above all, he is revealed in our encounter with him in the Eucharistic meal.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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