O Antiphons (Gathering)

This week we will explore the O Antiphons.  The original Advent calendar was an ancient Latin hymn called the O Antiphons. Starting on December 17 and continuing through the day before Christmas Eve, this timeless observance of the advent season is fitting for the Sunday before Christmas as we are preparing with mixed emotions for that special day.  It is important to note that in the early church Christmas was not the special day it is today.  In fact, it took a few centuries for it to find its way into the calendar proper and even longer for it to be settled on a date.  This means that Advent took even longer to be established. 

The reasons for the development of the advent tradition are varied and contain a good amount of speculation, but what we see is that over time, Christmas seemed to become a holiday that began to absorb others.  We see this most in how we include the wisemen (or kings) into the Nativity when their rightful place is at epiphany.

With Christmas beginning to become this grand holiday, monks and clergy recognized that the penitent nature of the holiday was lost.  To regain that this time was created to help nurture and develop the community of faith.  I guess you could say that Christmas without Advent is like having desert without dinner or celebrating the resurrection without understanding the pain of the crucifixion. 

Advent brings a balance to Christmas, not to make us feel bad about ourselves or highlight our insecurities, but to ask the simple question of how we are prepared for Christ.  I have always liked the O Antiphons, because in a very simple way they put our life with Christ into perspective.  The Service of the O Antiphons was an evening prayer.  Which makes sense as the darkness comes, praying for light. 

The antiphons are:

O Sapientia Wisdom

O Adonai Lord

O Radix Jesse Root of Jesse

O Clavis David Key of David

O Oriens Sunrise

O Rex Gentium King of the Nations

O Emmanuel God with us

If you read the first letter (not counting the O) of each antiphon from bottom to top, the group of antiphons forms a backwards acrostic poem in Latin: ero cras, or “tomorrow I will [come].”

In many congregations, the O Antiphons are best known as the source for the popular Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

I hope that you can join us this Sunday as we prepare our hearts by celebrating this advent service in a way that only we can do in the Gathering Service!

Here is the prayer for Advent that our service will follow:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, you order all things with strength and gentleness: Come now and teach us the way to salvation.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Adonai, Ruler of the house of Israel, you appeared in the burning bush to Moses and gave him the law on Sinai: Come with outstretched arm to save us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Root of Jesse, rising as a sign for all the peoples, before you earthly rulers will keep silent, and nations give you honor: Come quickly to deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Key of David, Scepter over the house of Israel, you open and no one can close, you close and no one can open: Come to set free the prisoners who live in darkness and the shadow of death.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, Sun of justice: Come, shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Ruler of the nations, Monarch for whom the people long, you are the Cornerstone uniting all humanity: Come, save us all, whom you formed out of clay.

Come, Lord Jesus.

O Immanuel, our Sovereign and Lawgiver, desire of the nations and Savior of all: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Come, Lord Jesus.

God of grace, ever faithful to your promises, the earth rejoices in hope of our Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. Prepare our hearts to receive him when he comes, for he is Lord forever and ever. Amen.