THE LAST WEEK OF ADVENT December 14, 2025

This Wednesday the 17^th is the beginning of the second and final part of Advent which is the immediate preparation for the Solemnity of Our Lord’s birth.

     Each day is marked by a special Antiphon which is sung at Vespers. They are called the “O” Antiphons for the simple reason that they all begin with this same cry, “O”, calling out to Christ to come. 

     Each antiphon takes an image of the Saviour drawn from the Old Testament and addresses Christ as the Lord who is fast approaching: e.g. “O Wisdom”, and then calls out with longing for the Lord to “Come!” and set us free from the darkness of sin.      Christ as the Son of God before ever He became a man is often referred to as the “Wisdom” of God who shares God’s own nature. “Adonai” is a Hebrew word meaning Mighty Lord, reminding us that Christ, being God, appeared to Moses on Mount Horeb in the Burning Bush, and on Sinai to give him the Commandments. “Root of Jesse” refers to Jesse, the father of King David, who is one of Our Lord’s human ancestors. “Key of David” speaks of the role of Our Lord as the King, the son of David, who alone has power to release mankind from the prison of sin. “Morning Star” reminds us of the prophecy of John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, who sees the coming of Christ as the dawn of a new day of salvation coming at the end of the dark night — an appropriate image at this darkest time of the year! “King of the Nations” reminds us that Christ is not only the King of the Jews, but of all mankind, as we will once again see at the Epiphany when the Magi represent all the pagan nations of the world worshipping Christ as God the Redeemer.

     Finally, we will ourselves sing the last antiphon here next Sunday at Vespers: “O Emmanuel”, the name which the Prophet Isaiah tells us means “God is with us”; reminding us that in the Incarnation, God Himself becomes a man in order to dwell with us. You may also note that these themes will also appear in the Alleluia before the Gospel at Mass each day of the week. 

                                                                           ~ Fr. Paul Dobson.