The “Great O” antiphon for December 21 is “O Morning Star” (or “O Dayspring”).
(See an explanation of the Great O’s in the blog post for December 16.)
From Isaiah 60:1 – 3
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
MORNING STAR – O brilliant Sun of Righteousness, of Justice, that lights up the path of life. So often in the most inauspicious of circumstances the light of grace crosses our pathway and stops with us, keeps company with us. God of surprises. How we all long for justice with mercy, and cry out for the hand of God to intervene in the chaos we have created for ourselves. We beg for justice with mercy for peoples, for nations, for the poor, for families, for this and that person, for the earth itself. How often we cry out to God – why do you let these things happen? We want God to break forth in brilliance and make all things better – right now! Instead, God shines in the darkness that hides our path. Little by little we see what we should do to drive back injustice and make the systems serve the least as well as the greatest. Lord Jesus, come and light up the darkness concealing from us the path of life. Light up even the motes of misery and make them merry with the light of God. Grace is freely given, and little by little, it lifts us and our world from our self-centred and sometimes violent passions, and directs our feet on the way of peace. Yes, come, Rising Sun, light of God’s love, promise of mercy, leave us no place to hide from You in the damp and chill of selfishness. The morning star, the dayspring – come O Rising Sun of righteousness with healing in your wings! We are now children of light – gift givers of light for the world. (Sr. Doreen McGuff)
From “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”:
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.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
