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).
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).
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.
O Adonai, Father of life!
You never forsook man, even when he turned his back on You. 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.
You, O Wisdom, bring everything into holy order, for You come from the Eternal Father. Thou dost penetrate all things and, by Thy strength and gentleness, dost restore the divine order.
You, O Eternal Father, send the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). To meet Him, to open oneself to His love, is to be touched by Wisdom. Read More
Isa 56:1-3, 6-8
Thus says the Lord: Make fair judgement your concern, act with justice, for soon my salvation will come and my saving justice be manifest. Blessed is anyone who does this, anyone who clings to it, observing the Sabbath, not profaning it, and abstaining from every evil deed. No foreigner adhering to the Lord should say, ‘The Lord will utterly exclude me from his people.’ No eunuch should say, ‘Look, I am a dried-up tree.’ Read More
Isa 54:1-10
Shout for joy, barren one who has borne no children! Break into cries and shouts of joy, you who were never in labour! For the children of the forsaken one are more in number than the children of the wedded wife, says Yahweh. Widen the space of your tent, extend the curtains of your home, do not hold back! Read More
Lk 14:25-33
Reading from the memorial of St. John of the Cross
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple. Read More
NOTE: Today is the last day of the series on “Advent in Apocalyptic Times.” If anyone would prefer to listen to a meditation on the reading or the gospel of the day, you can find it at the following link: http://en.elijamission.net/2021/12/14/
In the midst of the darkness, a light shines… It is the shining light of faith, which guides us through the darkness that surrounds us today. Faith does not allow itself to be disturbed, but continues to praise the Coming of Christ, His Birth in Bethlehem. This same faith makes us vigilant not to overlook the signs of the times and to be prepared for the Return of Christ. Read More
NOTE: We resume today’s series on “Advent in Apocalyptic Times.” If anyone prefers to listen to a meditation on the reading or the Gospel of the day, you can find it at the following link: http://en.elijamission.net/the-question-of-authority/
In the meditations of December 9 and 10, we had focused on the darkness we see around us. Although it is undoubtedly dense darkness, it should not lead us to surrender, to a fatalistic attitude, as if we could not defend ourselves against it. Read More
NOTE: We will pause today in the “Advent in Apocalyptic Times” series because, since it is Sunday, we want to meditate on the biblical texts for this day.
James 5:7-10
Now be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too must be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon. Read More
