Suffering With Joy

O Radix Jesse

December 19, 2009

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum opulorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, who standest as the ensign of the people; before whom kings shall not open their lips; to whom the nations shall pray: come and deliver us; tarry now no more.

Isaiah 11:1: And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.

Isaiah 11:10: In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious.

Romans 15:8-13: For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.

And again he saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people. And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

Apocalypse 5:1-5 : And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

This antiphon, like the others, foreshadows the means by which salvation shall come: J esus on the cross is the ensign of all the people of the world. Rulers are struck dumb by the victory of the cross.  Jesus has put down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly. He is the one who came to draw all to Himself. All nations will beseech His mercy, forsaking earthly kings and turning to the King of Kings.

Come, Jesus, lion of the tribe of Judah, and do not tarry. Deliver us from our enemies.

Tags: Advent, O Antiphons