The Lord Comes to Liberate Us

When I was still in the Seminary, one of the songs that I enjoyed so much was the famous “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. It evoked some sentiments of joy in me whenever it was rendered there in the Seminary chapel during liturgical celebrations. One of the main reasons I enjoyed the song then was not so much because of its melody or its rich Christological lyrics, but simply because Christmas holiday was very near and this meant that I would soon be vacating the Seminary to join my family in the Christmas festivities. It was not until after my priestly ordination and subsequent studies in Rome that I started appreciating the treasure of the words and meaning of this great song. This song usually was used as one of the introductory hymns for Vespers during the second part of Advent, 17th December to 24th December.

Advent season is divided into two parts. So far, we have concluded the first part of the season, and the second part has just begun. Yesterday, December 17 marked the beginning of this second part of Advent, which some liturgical analysts have identified as the “O Antiphons” part of the season. “O Antiphons”? What could that be? They are 7 in number, usually referred to as the seven precious jewels of our Catholic Liturgy, counting down the last seven days before Christmas with building anticipation. Because each antiphon begins with an “O”, they are thus called the O Antiphons. These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and different mysteries of Christ.

These titles make up the names used for Christ in the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. We find these seven Messianic titles in the Magnificat antiphons for each of the last seven days of Advent. They are as follows:  O Sapientia (Wisdom), O Adonai (Lord and Ruler), O Radix Iesse (Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (Key of David), O Oriens (Dawn of the East), O Rex Gentium (King of the Gentiles), and O Emmanuel (God With Us). 

As Christmas draws much closer, it is possible that the outward preparations for it can sometimes be distracting, when many people will be preoccupied with sending out Christmas cards, getting gifts ready, mounting the Christmas trees and lights, building and decorating the Christmas Crib, etc. In the midst of these external distractions, it is easy to lose focus on the true meaning of Advent preparation, causing some of our Advent endeavors not to be achieved. Thus, the “O Antiphons” beckon us to refocus, relax, and invite Christ to come into our heart.

In his book, With Christ Through the Year, the Rev. Bernard Strasser, O.S.B. said: “If we try to make our own the thought of these antiphons on their proper days, letting their ardent aspirations dominate our prayer life, our minds and hearts will surely be more closely attuned to the mind and heart of the Church as she prepares for the coming of her King.”

This coming of the King shall be a time of flourishing and “re-flowering”, just as Jeremiah tells us in the First Reading of today. The Responsorial Psalm echoes the same sentiment when it says that justice and peace shall flourish in His days.

Christmas is this time of flourishing, especially as the world is experiencing some shrinking and dryness because of the Covid-19 pandemic. May the “sprouting” of the “Shoot of Jesse” at Christmas really bring great re-flowering and flourishing to the different aspects of our existence, as we ask the “Lord, the Guide of the house of Israel” to “come and liberate us with your mighty arms” (today’s magnificat antiphon). Amen. 

[Readings: Jer 23:5-8;Mt 1:18-25]