Praying the O Antiphons, day 2: December 18- O Adonai (King and Ruler)

 

To be prayed at Evening Prayer or Vespers with the Magnificat

Question for meditation:
How does Jesus and his ministry embody the Reign of God, and call us to faithful obedience to God’s commandment to love and care for each other?
Where do you hear references to the Magnificat in the Antiphon or its scriptural sources?

Antiphon for December 18:
O Adonai and Captain of the house of Israel: You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law. Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

Then pray the Magnificat:
And Mary said,
My soul overflows with your greatness, O Adonai;

        My spirit rejoices in you, O Savior of All the Nations!
For the light of your countenance has dawned over me
        despite my humble state.
From now and throughout eternity
        even those yet born will call me Blessed
                and sing of the great things you have done for me,

                exulting in the holiness of your Name.

You pour out your mercy on those who stand in awe of you
        those who revere you,
                from ages untold to ages yet to come.

Your strong arm shields the humble
        and levels the proud in their isolating conceit.
You have razed the thrones of those who rule by might
        while setting the lowly and gentle upon seats of honor.
You have satisfied the hungry with abundant delights
        while giving the rich a begging bowl, 

                sending them away empty-handed.
You have come to the aid of your people unfailingly
        fulfilling your promises to our ancestors,
                to the children of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham forever,

                standing among us from time immemorial.

Repeat the antiphon:
O Adonai and Captain of the house of Israel: You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law. Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us.



Prayer references for the antiphon:

Exodus 3:14 

God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’

 

Matthew 2:6; Micah 5:1; 2 Samuel 5:2

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler   who is to shepherd* my people Israel.” ’ (Matt 2:6)

 

Now you are walled around with a wall;*    siege is laid against us;with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel    upon the cheek. 

 *But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,    who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me    one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,    from ancient days. (Micah 5:1)

 

For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ (2 Sam 5:2)

 

Exodus 3:2

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.

 

Exodus 20:1-17

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me….

 

Jeremiah 32:21

You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror…