On December 17th, the Church’s Advent liturgy begins to focus in a particular way on the Nativity of the Lord. The prayers, readings, and preface at Mass as well as the readings, antiphons for the Gospel canticles, intercessions, and prayers at the Liturgy of the Hours concentrate more resolutely than during the preceding days of Advent on the coming feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
The great “O Antiphons” have a particular role in these days as they have been used for centuries as the antiphons for the Magnificat. Each antiphon, always sung in a very similar melody, begins with a title of Christ, usually taken from the Old Testament, and followed by the petition that he come to us (veni) and act on our behalf:
December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19: O Radix Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Daystar) [after this date, the days begin to get longer]
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God-with-Us)
It has been very humbling for me to be here these last five months. I have had the privilege to see and do things that I would never have imagined - I have seen the bones of St. Peter; visited the shrines of martyrs; attended Masses presided over by Cardinals and even by the Holy Father himself; I have walked the Catacombs of the early Christian marytrs and confessors; I have walked among the sites that St. Peter and St. Paul themselves would have seen. And deep down, I know that I am not worthy of any one of these, except by the Grace of God.
Some of these amazing experiences were more woven into the fabric of everyday life. Just a few weeks ago, we Celebrated the 150th anniversary of the College. Last week, Dan and I received our Soggiorno cards - despite my veiled complaints about the whole affar, I must admit we received them quickly - much sooner than even the NAC faculty expected. Some of these things are even very simple - like the joy of picking and eating a fresh orange from one of the orange trees in our Courtyard.
And some of these experiences have been the playing out of the challenges of formation. Ever so gradually I can see rough edges of my personality being smoothed out. In so many small events that take place throughout the day, I can see God's hand.
From the first times that I felt God calling me to seminary (a story to save for another day), I had a hope that He would bring me to it, with whatever changes in me that required. Time and time again He has reassured me, and time and time again, He has brought me through all of my challenges, and I trust that He will continue to do this.
Just as God has reassured my path time and time again, He promised Israel a Savior - under each one of these titles.
Now back to the reflection:
When taken together from the last title to the first, the first letters of each title form a wonderful Latin acrostic:
Emmanuel
Rex
Oriens
Clavis
Radix
Adonai
Sapientia
This is the Lord’s response to the Church’s ardent petition that he come (veni):
Ero cras (I will be there tomorrow)!
God - the Father who keeps His promises.
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