O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti
et in Sina legem dedisti,
veni ad redimendu nos in brachio extento.
O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai, Come and save us with your mighty power.
Adonai is one of the most prominent names used for God in the Old Testament. Our English translation doesn’t do justice to this Hebrew word that we translate as ‘Lord’ or ‘Lord and Master’.
O Adonai is a title that encapsulates something of the depths we are touching of the mystery of God. It is telling that even in the Latin version of the antiphon we shall sing at Vespers this evening, Adonai is retained rather than the Latin, Dominus. Adonai evokes much more of the sense of adoration, awe and wonder at the God who is present to us. We may not remove our sandals, as Moses did at the burning bush, but we appreciate that worship and reverence are truly the only fitting response as we acknowledge the Lord present and active today.
As the words of the antiphon bring out, Adonai is the same Lord who appeared to Moses in the burning bush where he made it clear that Israel was to be freed from slavery in Egypt. The same Lord wants to lead each one of us into a greater freedom, for us to be loosened from all that holds us captive in our daily lives.
As we pray this ‘O’ antiphon, let us remember all those with authority over others, that they may use their position with integrity and wisdom. When we are tempted to make ourselves the Lord and Master of our own destiny, let us pray for the grace to turn back to our true Lord and God, asking him to prepare our hearts in these special days of Advent to receive Christ anew that He may be the guiding force of all our actions and, perhaps especially, the decisions that impact on others.
Let us find time in these last days before we celebrate the Incarnation to ponder in prayer the great gift God makes of himself to us.
Sr Josephine
Text and artwork ©Stanbrook Abbey 2024