I was reflecting on the “O Antiphons” today, those ancient prayers that inspired the familiar Advent carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” As it is Good Friday, though, I began to wonder how the Messianic titles of the “O Antiphons” might inform a consideration of the cross. As so often happens, this contemplative exercise produced a poem. In each couplet, I focus on a title associated with the Coming Christ at Christmas and consider how this title might apply to Christ Crucified on Good Friday. This proved an effective devotional exercise and I pray that my little poem ministers to your heart on this Good Friday.
The Carol
For reference, here is the text for “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord'rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, Thou Branch of Jesse's tree,
Free them from Satan's tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow'r to save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. [Refrain]
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.1
The Sonnet
If you would prefer to listen to this sonnet (and even swiftly-scribbled poetry ought to be read aloud), you can do so here:
O Come, O Come, behold Emmanuel:
Killed to console his captive Israel.
O Come, discern the Wisdom from on High
Denounced, denuded, deemed a fool—despised.
O Come, O Come, and hear the Lord of Might
Cry out beneath his law's condemning weight.
O Come, the promised Branch of Jesse see
Rude grafted to the ghastly roughened tree.
O Come and cringe as David's Key contorts,
Unlocking with each turn the holy courts.
O Come, and fearful view the curse reversed:
The Dayspring in dark death, death's dark dispersed.
O Come, and own your riven King of Peace
Whose death demands all indecision cease.
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Ryanne Molinari 