O Eastern Dawn, by Sr. Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ
Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message
December 17, 2014
Embracing God
Today is the start of the recitation of the Great “O”
Antiphons, the liturgical counterpoints in the monastic daily office to the
Virgin’s Hymn of Acceptance, the Magnificat, for the final seven days of Advent
to welcome the Christmas feast: “O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of
David, O Eastern Dawn, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel.” This marks the winding down of Advent in
preparation for Christmas.
As we begin to turn our devotions to the wonder of the
incarnation, it is important that we see that God taking on our flesh in Jesus
is an intimate act by God, where God embraces us and holds us, and all that we
are.
This faith should leave little room for self-loathing,
disappointment, or terminal discouragement. God embraces us and holds us: love touches what at times is unlovely and
remakes it in its own image. What
makes us unlovely—alienation, dispute, criticism, and resentment—flee from the
embrace of God. In meditating on the
Incarnation, of God embracing humanity, we must embrace God, and recognize the
holiness that is in the core of each of us, the image of God placed in us in
our creation.
Hoping your holidays are gentle and sweet,
Fr. Tony+
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