During the octave of Christmas, I would like to offer a simple meditation each day on the event of the Nativity of the Lord, interspersed with carols performed by Harpa Dei. I hope that this will help us to enter more deeply into the great mystery of this feast.
Rejoice, Christ is born! -is the cry of joy that fills heaven and earth. Rejoice, all you who have received this good news!
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). Read More
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God. Read More
O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay. Read More
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those
who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel,
Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush,
and didst give unto him the Law on Sinai:
come and with an outstretched arm redeem us. Read More
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence. Read More
Mt 21:23-27
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” Read More
