O Radix Iesse!

O Root of Jesse, Who dost stand for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall remain silent, and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us and delay not.

At Vespers each day from December 17-23, we sing the majestic "O Antiphons" at the Magnificat. These antiphons are probably quite ancient, perhaps already mentioned in the sixth century by Boethius. In more recent times, they have been versified and paraphrased as the hymn, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." They are a particularly moving summary of the hopes of Israel as laid down in Her sacred scriptures.

Today's, written above, makes extensive allusions to Isaiah's theology of the messiah: he will be born of the line of David, the son of Jesse; he will be a signal who will draw all nations to knowledge of the true God from the temple in Jerusalem; the nations who exalt themselves vis a vis Israel will be shamed at God's revelation, repent and bend their knees before the One God.

Let us pray for one another, that our Advent observances will have increased our fervor to welcome Christ at His coming.