The O Antiphons - O Adonai

Moses & the Burning Bush - 12th C Icon of Sinai

O Adonai - December 18th

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

O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.

That the word Adonai, meaning Lord, is one of the most frequently used OT terms for God should alert us immediately to the prefigured Christ in the appearance of God to Moses in the burning bush, who then gave the law to the People of Israel and covenanted with them, to the second image of the coming Christ in whose New Covenant the gentile world is joined with Israel into God's mysterious and total loving promise of redemption. It is also a reminder of just how much the Christian Church owes and belongs to the Ancient Covenant people, the Jews. Nostra Aetate puts it strongly:

Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ-Abraham's sons according to faith (6)-are included in the same Patriarch's call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people's exodus from the land of bondage.

The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles.(7) Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.(8)

Poem: O Adonai, O Adonai!

'Lord!, Lord !' We and others cry

in joy, in pain,

in awe, in terror-

down the ages of all God's people.

There on the mountain,

wreathed in smoke and flamed with fire-

Moses shoeless, face hid hard,

(for none can see the face of Adonai and live_

feels the searing heat of holy love.

A love that burns out sin,

that melts the evil dross in human hearts

to become a refined and pure sacrifice,

that of contrite lives.

Moses held the Law,

a heavier burden than he liked,

for instinct told him how we, as always,

would accept and then change the narrative

to suit our ways!

But his face shone, even in refracted light,

the brightness of God had changed him.

Veiled, he could only hope

that his vision would come true.

On the mountain, Peter James and John

saw Moses and Elijah

together with the brightest star,

Jesus , our Adonai, our Lord, yes Lord!

No more the burning bush,

now the manger's reflected star,

now the Cross-held-darkness

that brought new light, unveiled and seen,

of Calvary and Jerusalem

and all the nations.

'Lord, Lord', we whisper,

on this nativity feast,

whilst the light-lit babe

hears and smiles,

and welcomes us!

Canon Robin Gibbons

December 18th 2019