O Antiphons: O Key of David           This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, and the “O Antiphon” we consider this week is the Lord’s Messianic title, “O Key of David.”       The antiphon for Vespers is:                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.          The Alleluia for Mass modifies it as, “O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!”       Isaiah’s prophecy here is interesting in several respects. In Isaiah 22:15-25 the Lord instructs Isaiah to go to Shebna, the royal steward (i.e., the chancellor, second in authority in the kingdom) of King Hezekiah and tell Shebna that he will be removed and Eliakim will take his place. The name “Eliakim” literally means, “

  O Antiphons: O Root of Jesse       We are in a series of articles meditating on our Lord’s coming again this Christmas by using the lovely Advent tradition of calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ with one of his messianic titles. This week we call upon him as “O Root of Jesse,” also translated, “O Flower of Jesse’s stem.”       This “O Antiphon” (as they are called) for Vespers is rendered in today’s English as:           O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples;              kings stand silent in your presence;              the nations bow down in worship before you.             Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.       The lectionary for Mass for the Gospel Alleluia modifies it to read: “O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!”       The prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Is 11:1).       Jes

O Antiphons: O Lord          We are in a series of articles meditating on our Lord’s coming by using the lovely Advent tradition of calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ with one of his messianic titles. This week we call upon him as “O Lord” (Adoni), also translated, “O Leader.” This “O Antiphon” (as they are called) is rendered in today’s English as:                O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,                who gave him the Holy Law on Sinai mountain:                come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.          The lectionary for Mass modifies it to read: “O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!”          As we mentioned last week, each of these antiphons (verses) relate to a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. Second only to the book of Psalms, Isaiah has had more influence on both Jewish and Christian belief and practice than any other b

O Antiphons: O Wisdom       Fall is now upon us. Advent is near. Christmas is coming.       We might begin thinking of our Lord's coming by using a lovely Advent tradition of calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ with one of his messianic titles, such as “O Wisdom.” Liturgically and traditionally, they start on Dec. 17th, but we might prepare ourselves for Advent and Christmas by taking more time, starting today, to meditate on these seven different themes.       The tradition is commonly called the “O Antiphons” because each begins with an “O.” (An “antiphon” is a verse added before and/or after a Psalm or canticle from Scripture; something like we use a refrain for songs and hymns today.)       The popular Advent and Christmas hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” is an English paraphrase of these seven O Antiphons.       They probably began in the 5th or 6th Century and traditionally were only used at Vespers (Evening Prayer), but today they are also used for the Alleluia befor