O Antiphons - 2018 - December 18th - O Adonai

O Adonai - Robyn Sand Anderson
Duke College Chapel

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the Law on Sinai, come to redeem us with outstretched arm

"Adonai" is Hebrew for "my Lord", and was substituted by devout Jews for the name "Yahweh", out of reverence. With this second antiphon we progress from creation to the familiar story of God manifesting himself by name to Moses and giving his law to Israel as their way of life. 

We are also reminded of the Israelite's' deliverance from bondage under pharaoh - a foreshadowing of our own redemption from sin. The image of God's arm outstretched in power to save his chosen people also brings to mind the later scene of Jesus with his arms outstretched for us on the cross.

O ADONAI

Suppose that Moses rose before first light
And saw the unexpected glow,
the incandescence, where on other mornings
Only darkness waited .

Mountains, desert, storm clouds in the background;
night, reluctant to depart;
and there, alive and dangerous with holiness,
a bush on fire,
growing its ruby flames like leaves,
bearing an awesome seed,
a saving Name.
too holy to be spoken.

O ADONAI!  O LORD OF ALL

Who are we to name Your Name, recite Your covenant,
proclaim Your boundless love for us?
Your Name, when we attempt to speak it, turns to fire in our mouths,
so we contain it in a title:  LORD!  ADONAI!
and take the fire inside to purify our hearts.
When you entrust us with your Name
you draw us near until,
in the flames that cauterize our dry assumptions
You reveal Your Name enfleshed:

O SAVING LORD!

The burning bush will bear its fruit
wherever seekers  wake to the illumined night,
and, stumbling barefoot toward the Holy One,
reach toward the fire
and call upon the Name. 
     —Sr. Kate


- Reflection from Franciscan Poor Clares website

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Reflections from prior years on the O Antiphons

• iBenedictines - O Adonai: Our Need of Holiness 2016
• Salt + Light - O Adonai
• Dating God - O Holy Lord: The God Who Hears Our Cries
• Blue Eyed Ennis - O Lord
• University of Notre Dame - O Adonai
• Thinking Anglicans - O Adonai