Sunday, 22 December, 4th Sunday of Advent:

Liturgy of the Word — Mi. 5:1-4; Ps. 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb. 10:5-10; Lk. 1:39-45.

Some Notes on the “O Antiphons” —

1. Also known as the Great Advent Antiphons, the 0 Antiphons are the beautiful antiphons used for the Magnificat at Vespers on the last seven days of Advent. They go back to the 6th century. They are magnificent theology that use ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament. They proclaim the coming of Christ to fulfill our hopes of the Messiah. As an example — “O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us wisdom and knowledge!”

2. We know them in their amalgamated form as the hymn: “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!” Each antiphon is a title of Christ, mentioned in their full form in the Scriptures. The repeated use of the imperative, “Come,” embodies our longing for the Divine Messiah.

• 17 December, O Sapientia, O Wisdom (see Sir. 24:5; Wis. 8:1; Prov. 9:6);

• 18 Dec., O Adonai, O Lord of Israel (see Ex. 6:2-3; Ex. 3:2; Lev. 27:24; Ex. 6:6);

• 19 Dec., O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse (Is. 11:10; Is. 52:15);

• 20 Dec., O Clavis David, O Key of David (see Is. 22:22; Is. 42:7; Lk. 1:79);

• 21 Dec., O Oriens, O Radiant Dawn of the East (see Lk. 1:78; Wis. 7:26; Heb. 3:20);

• 22 Dec., O Rex Gentium, O King of the Nations (see Jer.10:7; Is. 28:16; Eph. 2:14; Gen. 2:7);

• 23 Dec., O Emmanuel, O God with Us (Is. 7:14; Is. 33:22; Gen. 49:10; 1 Tm. 4:10).

3. At present, the O Antiphons are used as the Alleluia verses before the Gospel from 16-23 December, with some variations on the dates of their use, e.g., O Emmanuel for 21 December. On the 24th, the Alleluia verse is “O Virgo Virginum,” O Virgin of Virgins, another O Antiphon, but not among the 7 Great Advent Antiphons.

4. 1st Reading, Mi. 5:1-4 — A prophecy of the coming Messiah. “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth… one who is to be the ruler of Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient times” (v. 1, see Mt. 2:5-6). “Therefore, the Lord will give them up until the time when she who is about to give birth has borne, then the rest of his kindred shall return for the children of Israel” (v. 2). Like Isaiah 30 yrs. earlier (see Is. 7:14), Micah expects that God will deliver Israel through a king from Bethlehem, therefore, a king from the line of David. “He shall take his place as shepherd…. his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth: he shall be peace “ (vv. 3-4). Jesus, the son of king David, will not only bring peace. He will be Peace personified.

5. Resp. Ps. 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 — A prayer to save and bring Israel back from exile in Babylon. “O Shepherd of Israel... stir up your power and come to save us. O God, restore us; light up your face [upon us] and we shall be saved” (vv. 2, 3). “Turn back again, God of hosts; look down from heaven and see” (v. 15). May you be with the Davidic king (“the man on your right”), “the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself (v. 18). Revive us (v. 19). The psalm may be applied to our Advent hope for the coming of the Messiah, the son of David.

6. 2nd Reading, Heb. 10:5-10 — Hebrews says that when Jesus came, God prepared a body for him (v. 5). He came to do God’s will (v. 7), to do away with the sacrifices and offerings of the Old Law. And now, “we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” (vv. 8-10). The one sacrificial saving offering of the Body and Blood of Christ displaces the numerous sacrificial non-redemptive offerings of animals in the old dispensation

7. Gospel, Lk. 1:39-45, The Visitation — The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, she would give birth to the Son of the Most High God and successor of King David. This is not impossible because her “relative,” Elizabeth, despite being old and barren, is now 6 months pregnant. Mary obeys the word of the angel. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (vv. 26-38).

8. Upon the angel’s departure, Mary hastens to visit Elizabeth in a town of Judah [traditionally known as Ain Karem]. Gabriel’s revelations impel her to mission. She will assist the older Elizabeth in the delivery of her child. Upon arrival, Mary greets her, and Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” declares: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy, Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (vv.39-45).

9. The joyful episode includes revelations by the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth knows that Mary is the Mother of God. The baby, John, still in Elizabeth’s womb, “sees” and recognizes the Son of God in Mary’s womb. The baby John leaps for joy. Scholars call this event the pre-birth baptism and cleansing of John from original sin, even as he would, in the future , baptize Jesus at the river Jordan.

10. Prayer — All-provident God, when we were sunk in sin and death, you turned toward us and rescued us by the Incarnation of your only Son. Grant, we humbly pray, that we, who acknowledge his coming with reverent love, may also be one with him. This we pray, through the same Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Amen, (Collect of today’s Mass).

The Lord is near! Come, O Lord, come to save us!

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!