O Antiphon for December 23rd
We pray + in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the awaited of the nations, the Savior of all people: Come to
save us, Lord our God.”
Reflection: That name- Emmanuel- a Hebrew word meaning God is with us! And then the Aramaic word, Maranatha- meaning Come, Lord Jesus! We use those words during Advent, although Maranatha is used more during the Easter season. Nevertheless, the Hope of Maranatha is made present and real when we proclaim Emmanuel. And here we enter into the great mystery of the Church. We live in an "Already but not yet" tension. A middle ground that at once rejoices in Emmanuel, and yet Hopes for Maranatha! Jesus who makes himself manifest to us in Word, Sacrament, Prayer and acts of Love is here, present, real, right now- Emmanuel! And yet we wait for His coming, his Second Coming, his total manifestation in the flesh when we will no longer need Word or Sacrament and our Prayers and acts of Love will come to fruition- Maranatha! What a beautiful mystery! What a beautiful tension! What a beautiful thing of which to be a part!
We pray: Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord. He who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us. St. John of Kanty, pray for us.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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