We have reached the final day of the the O Antiphons. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we celebrate the arrival of our Savior. Today, for the last day of Advent, we cry out for his arrival one last time. The O Antiphon for December 23, in Latin:
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
Before giving you the translation, I'll let you know why I have shared the Latin with you. The first letters of each of the titles of the Messiah, in reverse order, are E(mmanuel), R(ex), O(riens), C(lavis), R(adix), A(donai), and S(apientiae). In Latin, "Ero cras" translates to "I will be (here) tomorrow." A message within a message!
The translation for today's antiphon:
O Emmanuel, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior; come to save us, O Lord our God.
As you may know, Emmanuel translates to "God with us." In that word, we express the true meaning of Christmas, and of our whole faith -- that God not only sent us His Son, but truly sent us Himself, to live among us and show us the way to salvation. Christ is with us! Alleluia! Alleluia!
My prayer for you today and for your celebration of Christmas is that you rejoice in the ways God is present in your life everyday. I hope you are surrounded by loved ones in your celebrations.
O come, o come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Merry Christmas!
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