Advent Daybook, 22: O Emmanuel (God Is With Us)
An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?
For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.
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Look: Annunciation, 1610, El Greco
(source)
O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the One whom the Gentiles expect, and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Read this post for an overview of praying the O Antiphons the week leading up to Christmas.
Listen: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from Medieval Christmas, Kemper Crabb (see below for all stanzas)
Spotify | YouTube
“1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel!
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who orders all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain]
3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law,
in cloud and majesty and awe. [Refrain]
4 O come, O Rod of Jesse free,
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave [Refrain]
5 O come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. [Refrain]
6 O come, O Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadow put to flight. [Refrain]
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our sad divisions cease,
and be for us our Prince of Peace. [Refrain]”
Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent Carols & Hymns 2018. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
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”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.”
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”But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
’Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and his name shall be called Emman′u-el’
(which means, God with us).”
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”And Mary said,
’My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.’”
Pray:
“Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
Do:
Give in secret
Bless someone you know who’s had a difficult year with a secret gift.
“… he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.” (Luke 1:53)
Choose a stranger or friend living in hardship that you can bless with a secret gift of money, food, or other provision. Deliver the gift by Christmas Day.
Listen to O Emmanuel Advent antiphon and sonnet by Malcolm Guite by clicking through to his website, or pressing the play button below.
(See all Advent Daybook posts from 2017 here.)