He Is Coming!

24 Dec

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.”  (Lk 1:68-69)

For the past several days, we have considered the O Antiphons, which highlighted the different titles of the Messiah.

The O Antiphons were mostly in use by monks in the early centuries and were in use liturgically in Rome by the 800’s.  The monks, it was said, ordered the antiphons with a specific purpose in mind.  If you start with the last title, working backwards to forwards, and take the first letter of each title — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, and Sapientia — you will discover the Latin words:  ero cras which are translated, “Tomorrow, I will come.”

We have spent the past three and a half weeks of Advent preparing for the celebration of Christmas, which is tomorrow.  “Tomorrow, I will come.”

Yes.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

FAITH ACTION:  Prayerfully consider the lyrics of the Advent Hymn, People Look East for the Lord, truly, is on the way!

People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.