O Radiant Dawn

The "O Antiphon", O Radiant Dawn, falls appropriately on the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere...where, although the mornings are still very dark, and daylight, very short, the HOPE of the return of the sun and more daylight, makes the Radiant Dawn already visible in our imaginations.  In our minds we become the "lover" of the Song of Songs who leaps over the mountains and bounds over the hills, like a young stag or a gazelle (cf. Song 2: 8-9).  New energy, new joy fills us.  Or we become Mary, "setting out in haste" to visit Elizabeth so that both mothers-to-be can share their joy and be of service to one another.  If that is the joy, the energy, that comes with sunlight or motherhood, what level of joy should fill our hearts at the birth of the Son of God as one of us?   That is the energy, the force,  that propels us to spend the weeks of Advent in preparation, that spurs us to shop for gifts, that brings families together to worship the "Babe" and celebrate with a scrumptious meal.  As Mary responded to Elizabeth's greeting with praise of God, may we sing our own Magnificat as we leap toward the great day four days from now. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior."  (Lk 1: 46)
Bro. Rene