“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a beautiful hymn that we hear frequently throughout Advent. It has seven verses, each of which come from one of the O Antiphons. These are seven antiphonal prayers specifically used during the Church’s evening prayer from December 17 to 23, leading up to the Nativity of Our Lord. The O Antiphons look back through the history of salvation presented in Sacred Scripture, and they cry out for the long-expected Messiah who is the culmination of that history. Praying with these titles and antiphons has the potential to make Advent deeply memorable. Every time we hear these words and images, or sing the hymn, our expectation of God-with-us is kindled. This series of reflections is offered in hopes that individuals and families will be ready to pray the O Antiphons in the final week before Christmas eve; that they will be able to savor the birth of Emmanuel in that Bethlehem stable.
O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
The third O Antiphon, prayed on December 19, calls us very specifically to remember that the Messiah, the Chosen One of God, is part of a royal family tree. Specifically, this Messiah will be descended from David, Israel’s great king, whose father is Jesse. The implication is that one who comes from the lineage of the great king is destined to take up the throne of the Kingdom of Israel.
This antiphon also beckons us to look for specific, tangible signs of God’s covenant love for His people and for swift salvation. King David, himself, is one such sign because he defeated the surrounding pagan nations, and because he returned the Ark of the Covenant to Judah. By his actions, David provided the salvation for which the nation cried out, and allowed them to worship according to God’s prescriptions.
The key passage of the Old Testament related to this antiphon is Isaiah 11:1-10. There, God’s people are promised “a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch [that] shall grow out of his roots.” This shoot and branch is clearly prophesied as a person upon whom the seven-fold Spirit of the Lord will come and rest. At the end of the passage, we read that “the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the people; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.” To recap, this passage points us toward a descendant of Jesse and, thereby, of King David, who is granted unique access to the Spirit of God; and who offers signs that all the nations seek.
The Gospel narratives illustrate both these points quite well. In St. Matthew’s genealogy, we learn that Jesus’ lineage extends back to Abraham, the father of God’s covenant people, Israel. In addition to that, St. Luke extends Jesus’ lineage back to Adam, the father of all nations. Clearly, these authors want to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan, not just for the Jews, but for all Gentiles as well.
Additionally, the Gospel of St. John highlights Jesus’ divinity by recounting seven specific signs, or miracles that prove His lordship. In between these miracles, Jesus has an encounter with Nicodemus, who admits to Jesus that “no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus is about the new birth by water and Spirit by which a person will be able to see the Kingdom of God (Jn. 3:1-6). Throughout his teaching ministry, Jesus reveals that the greatest miracles that will happen are those that bring people into the very life of God; or that bring the life of God to the people.
In this antiphon, “without delay” also stands out. It reminds us that we need the Lord’s mercy and salvation, quickly. This might cause us to think of times in the Gospels when people responded to Jesus’ words and miracles in all appropriate haste. One such encounter was with Zacchaeus, who “hurried and came down” and received Jesus joyfully into his home that day. Because of Zacchaeus’ response of urgency, and his generosity of spirit, Jesus told him, “Today salvation has come to this house…” (Lk. 19:1-10; emphasis added). See, Jesus acts quickly to bring people into the reign of His Kingdom. The Lord responds in all haste when we exhibit a desire to know Him.
So, what are the ways that God’s has acted most clearly to save His people and bring His life to them? How does He bring believers into His Kingdom and sustain them there? How does He save? The simple answer is the sacraments. Jesus revealed this about Baptism in his exchange with Nicodemus. As the ministry of the Church began the extension of Jesus’ salvific miracles, St. Peter taught that Baptism “now saves you.” Of course, the greatest sign by which God’s life comes to us is the Eucharist, the Miraculous Body of Our Lord that is the very pledge of eternal life for those who receive it.
Some questions that help unpack this antiphon and apply it to our lives: Have I recognized the sacraments as signs of God’s love and salvation? Do I realize that Jesus desires to come “in haste” to meet me in these seven miraculous signs? Can I see that the sacraments are the fruit of the Tree that is rooted in King David and his father, Jesse? Do I see that I participate in this royal lineage because of my Baptism?
**This translation of the O Antiphons is taken from the translation available on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: https://www.usccb.org/prayers/o-antiphons-advent.
