O Rising Sun

O Rising Sun,
You are the splendour of eternal light
And the sun of justice.
O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness
And in the shadow of death.

This is the O Antiphon appointed for December 21. The O Antiphons are part of the liturgy of the Hours, which we have been contemplating these past few weeks. They precede the Magnificat-The Song of Mary-during vespers. The Advent antiphons are sung in the last seven days of Advent.

Each antiphon begins with a different name for the messiah. They help remind us that our Advent prayer is a cry for the messiah to come. The O antiphon for December 21, O Rising Sun or O Oriens, corresponds to the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. So the creation itself reminds us that we are in need of light. We are in need of the Christ light, which shines on those who are in darkness.

This rising sun or dawn of the east is a name for Jesus the Christ. As we face eastward, liturgically, we are facing into the rising sun and waiting for the messiah to come. Each Sunday morning as the congregation focuses eastward we reenact Advent waiting which is answered by Easter Resurrection.

We live within a culture that thinks Christmas is a time of year rather than the incarnation of God. But we are pilgrim people, moving eastward to meet the Messiah. And make no mistake in thinking that we are the only ones on the move, because the Messiah is striding quickly to meet us.

O dayspring, even now You are coming.
Let us turn our hearts and our faces to the east.

Look upon us, O Lord,
And let all the darkness of our souls
Vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
And open us to the treasures
Of thy wisdom.
Amen

© 2009 The Center for Spiritual Development at Saint James Monkton