(tune: O come, O come, Emmanuel)
O come, O Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan\’s tyranny,
From depths of hell thy people save,
And give them victory o\’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
This is the Child whom kings long to see, and perhaps compare to themselves. He is as fragile as a tiny shoot growing toward the sun, yet no one is as powerful as He. His frailty and power flow from His love. This image comes from Isaiah 11:1 and the next 2 verses list for us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the Spirit are always One, together with the Father.
The frail shoot, root, stem, rod, will grow into a standard before which the world and kings tremble, but in which Christians find strength and comfort; for the standard/banner of Christ is the Cross. The Root of Jesse announces that the advent of the Son is focused on the mission of Redemption that He will accomplish on the Tree of the Cross. Jesus reigns over the universe from the throne of the Cross.
Come, Lord, grow in our hearts that we bow down in worship to You.
Amen.
Dominican Life on Lotus Lane 