O Root of Jesse

"O Root of Jesse, who stood as sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not." Today's O antiphon stems from this passage in Isaiah: "On that day,/ The root of Jesse,/ set up as a signal for the nations,/ The Gentiles shall seek out,/ for his dwelling shall be glorious./ He shall raise a signal to the nations/ and gather the outcasts of Israel;/ The dispersed of Judah he shall assemble/ from the four corners of the earth." (Is 11:10, 12).
Jesse was the father of David whose ultimate root or stem is Jesus. "I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star." (Rv 22: 16). The Gentiles are non-Jews, us, who are in turn the offspring of Jesus. We too can and do stand as a "sign" for the people, to bring them in supplication to THE Root. As weak and fearful as we often perceive ourselves, we join the multitudes who felt the same way until they followed the "Signal", let love cast out all fear, and like Joseph, Marcellin Champagnat, Florentius, became beacons drawing in people to the knowledge and love of Jesus. In the midst of tragedy and trial, we remember that God, who is Love, took human form, became like us, and is the source from which we can draw the strength we need to help others in their grief, suffering, fear and anger. Jesus asks us and gives us the power to welcome, forgive, help all, even enemies, and be that same sign he was to those who walk in darkness. "Come, live in the love that knows no bounds. Come, Lord, do not delay."
Bro. Rene