O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et in Sinai legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
We have exclaimed the Lord’s name, “O Adonai” or “O Lord”. This invocation is very beautiful. The citation of “O Adonai” at the start of this antiphon is amazing. The expression “Adonai” was used in the Jewish Liturgy to call the divine tetragrammaton YHWH which could not be pronounced. It means, Lord, or even more precisely, “my Lord”. This name indicates the experience of a relationship of love and obedience that ties God and man who calls on His name.
The reference to the bush that burns without being consumed alludes to the meeting with God as love, an ardent love that is passionate and never consumed, just like the burning bush!
Today we bring this affectionate expression into our personal prayer. We whisper in silence these words which mean that God is our “everything”, the guide of our life. He is everything for us and we want to be totally His.
Come Jesus! Maranatha!
O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour *
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
Concluding Prayer
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.