Author Archives: Deacon Chris

O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Our final O Antiphon uses the greatest of all the Messianic titles – Emmanuel. Each of the titles of the messiah also correspond to a prophecy given by Isaiah. Today the greatest of the prophecies is foretold:

• Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. — Isaiah 7:14

This title is the most appropriate, most complete, most comprehensive, and yes, the most different as well.You see, the whole story of the Incarnation is contained in this wonderful title of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ — God with us. Our God redeems us, sanctifies us, and consecrates all people and all time by this different way — by coming to earth and making all things new. By redeeming us by becoming one of us. Only a God that loves you far beyond your ability to comprehend it would enter His own creation as a creature Himself, in the most unassuming way. That is why Emmanuel is the greatest title of the Messiah.

This is how the title was first written in Hebrew by the prophet Isaiah:

Emman el

It is actually two words, as you can see from the split between the characters – Emmanu (with us) and El (God). El is the most ancient and simplest Hebrew word for God. We see it comprising a portion of names of important figures in Sacred Scripture, for example Ezekiel, Michael, Gabriel & Raphael.And of course, in titles of God himself: El, Elohim, El Shaddai, Elah, Eloah, Elyon.

But even as wonderful as the title is, the name that we receive tomorrow night is greater still. The name that will be given the swaddling baby by his mother and father – the name that was pre-given to Mary even at the announcement of his entry into this world.Praise to you, God with-us: thank you for loving us so much that you became one of us. Thank you for revealing yourself to us more and more through salvation history. Thank you for choosing us, calling us, setting us apart, commissioning us, and for loving us — to be more precise, thank you for loving us, literally, to the death.

PS: In a few moments I will share with you a special gift that Benedictine monks wrapped for you centuries ago . . .

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from dust.

Christ is the head of us all. He is mighty God and Prince of Peace. He is the Lion of Judah. His fore-bearer, David was King of Israel, but the Messiah comes as King of the Gentiles (Nations). He bridges both the chosen ones and the nations into a single, coherent arch.

An arch held together by the perfect keystone – the One who makes all things complete; and the One who makes all fallen creatures new – by the blood of His cross.

A different way of salvation, a way that only the Everlasting God could have imagined, coming into his creation to save it from within.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Our antiphon today reminds us of the Canticle of Zechariah, called the Benedictus, which is prayed each morning in the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds (also called Morning Prayer).

Zechariah was a priest, descended from the lineage of Aaron, as was his wife, Elizabeth. It was during his term of offering incense in the temple that Zechariah was visited by Gabriel and told of his coming son, John, who would “go before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah” to prepare the people for the Messiah.

Zechariah’s doubt of the angel’s words caused him to become mute for nine months, until he named his new-born son “John.” At the very moment of the naming, his mouth was freed and he cried out in joy to the Lord with this beautiful song of praise.

(The Benedictus is from Luke 1:67-79, and will be our prayer for today. )

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oat he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of

the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the

shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

Yesterday we heard about the flower that would shoot forth from Jesse. Today’s antiphon speaks about Jesse’s son, David who became the greatest king of the Chosen People. Just as David was anointed King of the people, the messiah would be anointed our Everlasting King.

Many of the Jewish people that did not accept Jesus as the messiah did so because they were expecting a military ruler in the manner of David. They were anxiously awaiting to be returned to the first place in the land they inhabited.

But our God chose to come in a different way. Not in regal splendor, but in the simplest, humblest way imaginable. He was born among farm animals, his mom and dad huddled together with sheep and donkeys and maybe a cow or two around them. He was placed in the animal’s feeding trough – that was his crib.

Praised be you, Christ our King – thank you for wearing not the golden crown of David, but rather the crown of thorns – the different crown, the crown that brought salvation to all the people — chosen or not.