Father Bob's Reflections

Saturday of the third week of Advent

Christmas Eve is a week away.

Advent themes are all about waiting for light to shine in our darkness.
For we who are Christians we await, Jesus, Yeshua, who is for us the Light of the World.
We prepare a place for him to shine in our own hearts this day.
We invite you to search out your own inner meaning whatever that might be.

Here is one of the magnificent O Antiphons that appears in the liturgy as a countdown to Christmas:

O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel,

you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush

and on Mount Sinai gave him your law.

Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us.

And my prayer . . .

O Adonai*, we need you in our world more than ever!

You appeared in the burning bush long ago.

I remember this awesome sunrise two years ago over the ocean at  St. Augustine Beach.

I’m reminded of the old sailor’s maxim:  “Red at night, a sailor’s delight; red in the morning, sailor’s take warning.”

Come with your refiner’s fire and burn your way into our hearts.

so that we can prepare the way for the Messiah to come into our lives,

into our homes,

our workplace and marketplace,

our neighborhoods

our beloved  country,

our waiting world!

Come Lord Jesus!

______

What are  the “O Antiphons?” One of the most cherished collections of our ancient liturgical chants are the seven “O Antiphons” that are sung each of the seven nights before Christmas at Vespers beginning tonight. They have beautiful chant melodies.  I am using some of them interspersed in the next week before Christmas. 

Here is a dramatic audio slide show of O come, O come Emmanuel for your reflection (which is the text of the seven O antiphons.  Be sure to turn up your speakers and enter full screen

* Adonai — one of the names the Jewish people use for God.

For those those of you interested in Gregorian Chant, here is a web site that has information and  recordings of the chant melodies of all seven. (Scroll down to the bottom of the chart. The recordings for each antiphon are there; you have to click on the audio sign for each.  Have patience!  It’s well worth it.)

With love,

Bob Traupman

contemplative writer