O Adonai

 O Adonai

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

The Israelites were instructed not to use the sacred name of God, Yahweh, "I am who am",  but instead to substitute Adonai, "sacred Lord" when referring to him  in their prayers.  We honor their tradition in this second "O Antiphon", recalling the burning bush Moses saw and from which he heard the response to his question, "Who am I to say it is who sent me?" (cf. Ex 2: 3-4) 

As Advent draws closer to its conclusion, we might examine ourselves to see how we reverence not only the name of God, but also how we relate to him in love and service. If we are not keeping his law nor stretching out our arms to receive his freeing hand, we have much more to learn and put into practice in the remaining days of Advent, yes, even for our remaining days on earth. Come, O Adonai, stretch out your arms to help us find the freedom you promise.

Bro. Rene