The O Antiphons - O Rex Gentium

Edgar from Winchester Charter

December 22nd O Rex Gentium

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,

lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:

veni, et salva hominem,

quem de limo formasti.

English:

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

There are two main prophecies from Isaiah that find echoes in this O antiphon, both dealing with salvation is various forms, the Child to come who will unite all peoples in a time of peace and justice which will last forever: "For a child has been born for us, a son given us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Is 9:6) and the other which focuses on the just Judge who will end all warfare bringing about reconciling peace amongst the nations:"He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."(Is 2:4)

These are not simply pretty thoughts, they remain firmly rooted in our faith and discipleship of Jesus, but they are also part of a promise that when he comes again and reveals the Kingdom of God in all its fullness, then all these things shall take place, but far better for us all if we have tried to prepare and bring about the Kingdom in our own way!

At the heart of people of goodwill is a desire to unite, to be at peace, to live in harmony, only in Christ will it finally come, for the Word, active in the breath of life on the dust of the first Creations powerful beginning, will make us all in New Creation!

O Rex Gentium

In the beginning was the dust,
Cosmic, scattered, numberless, unnamed.
Then God spoke that Word of life,
Who with the fired Spirit, both untamed
Fixed it, held it back from strife!

Within the darkness and the chaos,
Spattered ink, from Gods pen writing,
Scrawling noun and different name.
Saw the creature shadows fighting,
From Eden cast them out in shame.

Yet another dust king came then,
Entered into humankind ,
O Rex Gentium, of every nation,
True cornerstone that we might find,
Desire for peace, and our salvation!

Canon Robin Gibbons December 22 2019