"O" Antiphons for Advent

 

(Advent snow on trees)

 

We are -- again -- grateful to Fr. Austin Fleming -- pastor at a parish in Concord, MA -- for this wonderful reflection for these last 8 days of Advent;  a reflection on the "O Antiphons"  and a prayer to accompany them.

 

In the last seven days of Advent the Church prays with seven "titles" of the Lord in anticipation of celebrating his birth at Christmas.  During this week before Christmas my Pause for Prayer will reflect each day on one of these titles, the first of which is Wisdom; the second, Adonai; the third, Root of Jesse; the fourth, Key of David; the fifth, Radiant Dawn; the sixth, King of All Nations; and the seventh and last, today, Emmanuel...

Isaiah had prophesied, "The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel." (7:14).  Remember that "Emmanuel" means "God with us."


O Emmanuel

Come, Emmanuel, and be true to your name:
be our God-with-us!

God, be with us in war:
and show us the path to peace...

God, be with us in every joy
and show yourself its source...

God, be with us in our grief
and lead us through its darkness to light...

God, be with us in our loneliness
and wrap your arms around us in warmth
and in compassion...

God, be with us in our hopes and dreams
and teach us to trust
that we will have what we truly need...

God, be with us when we fail you
and our neighbor and ourselves:
forgive us and mend us with your mercy...

God, be with us in our weakness:
be strong for us, be strong in us 
and show your strength through us... 

God, be with us in the Church:
in the power of your Spirit lead us to truth
and to peace among ourselves...

God, be with us in our heart of hearts
and teach us to long for all that's yours to give...

Come, Emmanuel, and be true to your name:
God, be with us this Christmas
and in the new year before us...

We rejoice even now
for at the end of all days you will come again,
Emmanuel, God-with-us, 
and you will set us free...

God, be with us in these last hours of Advent
and bring us to the dawn of new life,
the birth of your Son, Jesus,
our brother and our Lord...

Amen.