Bound in Love

December 17 – O Sapientia

O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: come and teach us the way of prudence.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God [Mt. 4:4]. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all [Ps. 104:24]. Thy word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path [Ps. 119:105].

December 18 – O Adonai

O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared in the Bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law of Sinai: come and deliver us with an outstretched arm.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed…[Ex. 3:2]. Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you [Is. 35:4].

December 19 – O Radix Jesse

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall seek; Come and deliver us, and tarry not.

In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious [Is. 11:10]. The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope” [Rm. 15:12].

December 20 – O Clavis David

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel; that openest, and no man shutteth, and shuttest, and no man openeth: Come and bring the prisoner out of the prison-house, and him that sitteth in darkness, and the shadow of death.

And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open [Is. 22:22]. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind [Lk. 4:18].

December 21 – O Oriens

O Day-spring, Brightness of light everlasting and Sun of rightesousness: Come and enlighten him that sitteth in darkness, and the shadow of death.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined [Is. 9:2]. To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us [Lk. 1:78].

December 22 – O Rex gentium

O King of the nations, and their Desire, the Cornerstone, who makest both one: come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates! And be lifted up, ye everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in [Ps. 24:7]. And they put over His head the accusation written against Him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” [Mt. 27:37]. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone [Ps. 118:22]. Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation…” [Is.28:16]. …having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone [Eph. 2:20].

December 23 – O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver, the Desire of all nations, and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [Is. 7:14]. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” [Mt. 1:22, 23].