MEDITATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS (3/8): My heart I want to give you

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You wanted to choose simple people: they were shepherds (Lk 2:8-20). You, Beloved Child, love simplicity. You can enter more easily into a simple heart.

And You also make us simple. It is not necessary to know everything at once. It is more important to let Your love burn in us and to hasten like shepherds to pass on the Good News. Read More

MEDITATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS (2/8): Angels and men

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“Glory sing the cherubs in the fields of Bethlehem…”

You are not only the joy of Israel and of all mankind; you are also the joy of the angels, our friends in heaven.

How you must have rejoiced, beloved angels, when you recognised in God’s light His immense Wisdom in choosing this way of salvation!

Your songs of joy resound again in our hearts: “Glory to God in the highest heaven!” (Lk 2:14) Read More

Waiting for the Lord

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How long the Israelites waited for the Messiah! Then, when he came and the promises began to be fulfilled, they did not recognise him. What a tragedy! Now the believing Jews are still waiting for him… They are also waiting for the coming of the Prophet Elijah, who is to precede the Messiah. But he too has already come: “If you will believe me, he is the Elijah who was to return”, says Jesus, referring to John the Baptist (Mt 11:14). 

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Sixth O Antiphon: “O Rex gentium”

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O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

 

All peoples are waiting for you, O King of nations.

Deep down they know it:

There must be the One who truly loves us;

There must be the One whom we willingly serve,

There must be the One who does not take advantage of us for his own interests,

He who does not oppress us,

The One who can be trusted without reservation!

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Fourth O Antiphon: “O Clavis David”

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O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel,

Who dost open and no man doth shut,

Who dost shut and no man doth open,

come and bring forth from his prisonhouse

the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.

 

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18) – You say to us, O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel.

 

You, the Lamb of God, were the only one worthy to open the Book and its seals (Rev 5:1-5).

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Third O antiphon: “O Radix Iesse”

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O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

 

In many parts of the world, O Lord, Your sign is raised up: the sign of the Cross.

Exalted in it, You exclaim: “I am the salvation of the nations”.

 

“Why this uproar among the nations, this impotent muttering of the peoples? Kings of the earth take up position, princes plot together against Yahweh and his anointed” (Ps 2:1-2).

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