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Almost There

23 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

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Christ, Emmanuel, enlighten, hope, Joseph, journey of faith, King of the Nations, Mary, O Antiphons, radiant dawn, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Although away from the internet for two days, I have been very present to the O Antiphons. My favorite (except for the last but easily twinned with it) is the fifth, translated variously as “Rising Sun,” “Morning Star” or “Dayspring.” I prefer my own rendition (which I did not invent but heard somewhere along my journey of faith). As I wait today for the light to come, signaling a new day, my heart hopes for the sun to break forth over the mountain across the river. Such a powerful symbol of returning light can awaken me to a new day as nothing else can and so is best described as “Radiant Dawn.”

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness, come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The sixth antiphon, wherein Christ is called “King of the Nations,” breaks all the definitional laws of how the world sees a ruler. Coming as a helpless baby to a poor family, living as a carpenter’s apprentice and then an itinerant preacher and lover of all certainly topples all notions of kingship. Isaiah describes his reign as follows: He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they train for war again. (IS 2:4) Is this not the king we long for? The one we know to bring us to a new “radiant dawn?”

O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

This is the one we call Emmanuel, God with us. I will save consideration of this Great Light until tomorrow when the birthing begins and the promise is ready to be revealed.

Take the Leap

21 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

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Jesus, light of the world, radiant dawn, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

IMG_7121For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the darkest day of the year and yet the readings for today fairly shout with gladness because of the closeness of the “Radiant Dawn” about which we sing, that is, the coming of Emmanuel (God-with-us). He comes, the Hebrew Scriptures say, “springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills” calling us to come to Him. And when Mary entered the house of her kinswoman, Elizabeth, the infant in her womb (John the Baptist) “leaped for joy” in recognition.

Today, the psalm refrain calls us to EXULT! and to “sing a new song to the Lord.” What is it, I might ask myself, about the coming of Christ into the world that will make my heart leap for joy? And how will that change my life in the world? He’s coming soon, so I need to prepare today to take that leap!

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