Devotional 12-17-22

“The Great O Antiphons” – deep corporate prayers preparing for Christmas

One of my deepest expressions of prayer during the Advent season is shared with the universal Church – praying each evening The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and for the seven days of the last week of Advent praying the antiphons known as “The Great O Antiphons”.

The O Antiphons developed during the Church’s very first centuries. Spiritual writers mention them in the 6th century; by the 8th century they were being used in the liturgy of the Church. There are seven of these special antiphons and their texts come from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Prophetic and Wisdom Books.

The O Antiphons are short prayers sung before and after the Magnificat, the prayer of Mary in Luke 1:46-55, when coming to visit Elizabeth her cousin, Mary praises God for God’s favor & wondrous deeds. The Magnificat is sung during Vespers, evening prayer. The O Antiphons begin on December 17th, seven days before the Vigil of Christmas (Christmas Eve). The seventh and last antiphon is sung at Vespers on December 23rd. They are called the “O Antiphons” because they all begin with the letter-word “O”: they address Jesus by one of his Hebrew Scripture titles. They are fervent and deep prayers asking Jesus Christ to come to us and into this world in which we live – a world fractured and broken.

Advent has been about the many ways in which the Lord comes. He came at Bethlehem as a baby – God choosing to become human. In the Church and our daily lives he comes to us through his holy Presence. He comes in the breaking of the bread. He comes in the words of Holy Scripture. He comes in the persons around us and with whom we live.  He also comes in the person of our neighbors, especially those who are in need. He will come again at the end of the world as Judge of the living and the dead.

The Latin versions of each of the titles of the Messiah are: Sapientia (Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix (Root), Clavis (Key), Oriens (Rising Dawn), Rex (King), and Emmanuel (God with us).   Take the first letters of each of the titles, starting with the last and working back to the first.  They form an acrostic and spell: EROCRAS or “ero cras… I will be (there) tomorrow”.
The hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (UM Hymnal #211) is a hymn reworking of the seven O Antiphons. When we sing it, we are joining ourselves to Christians stretching back across centuries and throughout the whole world today who pray as all Christians do, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Here are the traditional O Antiphons:
17 Dec.  O Sapientia (Wisdom), coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: come and teach us the way of prudence.
18 Dec. O Adonai (Lord) and leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flames of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come and redeem us with outstretched arm.
19 Dec. O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse), who stand as a sign among the people, before whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the nations shall make supplication:  come to deliver us, and tarry not.
20 Dec. O Clavis David (Key of David) and scepter of the house of Israel; who open and none can shut; who shut and none can open:  come and lead to freedom the prisoner who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.
21 Dec. O Oriens (Rising Dawn), splendor of eternal Light and Sun of Justice:  come and illuminate those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.
22 Dec. O Rex Gentium (King of the nations) and their Desire, the Cornerstone who binds two into one:  come and save (humankind), whom you fashioned from clay.
23 Dec. O Emmanuel (God with us), our King and Lawgiver, the hope of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God!

Blessings to all in this holy season; may God alone be glorified, and let us prefer nothing to the love of Christ!

Rev. Dr. William Wilson
Retired, former District Superintendent & Assistant to the Bishop