December 22 “O King of the Nations”
Day six of the “O Antiphons” brings us to the title of the Messiah as the King of the Nations. We see that the Messiah is not only going to restore Judaism to its rightful place, according to Isaiah, but all nations will come to see the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the true God of all peoples.
Jesus Christ fulfills this prophecy of Isaiah in a much wider sense. As the Son of God, he was sent by the Father to save all peoples and restore them to grace through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus comes to be not only the symbol of the union of the human race, but he in fact embodies in himself the union of the human race. All peoples become one in Christ. We, however, spend a great deal of time focusing on how different we are from others. We see the division which is still present. We cannnot bring about unity solely on our own, it can only happen through the Spirit of Christ which is the source of all unity.
As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace, let us ask the Lord to help us help us to be instruments of unity in our families, in the work place and whereever God may put us.
O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
Please pray for all priests and seminarians, support Sacred Heart Radio, and if you have the chance, send up a prayer to the Lord for me that he may be merciful and give me something decent to preach on Christmas Day.
