simply, Christian
'to you': the good news of Christmas
I am not concerned about a so-called 'war' on Christmas. I am not shocked when people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I simply smirk when my atheist or agnostic friends sponsor grandiose Christmas celebrations with their friends and family.
None of these offenses nor a hundred . . .
"O King of the Nations..."
advent antiphons
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore...
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
. . .
"O Dayspring..."
advent antiphons
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
-- Isaiah 9.2 (NKJV)
Today we pray for Christ's coming:
O Dayspring,
splendor of light everlasting:
Come and enlighten those
who . . .
"O Key of David..."
advent antiphons
The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
-- Isaiah 22.22 (NKJV)
Today we pray for Christ's coming:
O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel,
you open and no one else . . .
"O Root of Jesse..."
advent antiphons
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots...
“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”
-- Isaiah 11.1, 11 (NKJV)
. . .
"O Adonai..."
advent antiphons
But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist...
For the . . .
"O Wisdom..."
advent antiphons
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
-- . . .