O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: Veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us and do not delay.

Today, just as in the Old Testament, heritage is important. Even now, who we are and where we have come from is important to us. We have all sorts of apps and computer programs to help us delve into our family’s ancestry. There is even a popular television program that traces the ancestry of prominent figures in British life. It is fascinating.

Our O antiphon for today, O radix Jesse (O root of Jesse) brings Jesus’ human heritage alive. Who is Jesse? He was the father of King David and it was from his line the Messiah was expected to come. (2 Samuel 7). Psalm 88 part of which we sing at Christmas night Vigils, just before midnight Mass, says:

I will keep my love for him (David) always;

For him my covenant shall endure

I will establish his dynasty for ever,

Make his throne as lasting as the heavens.

(Psalm 88 (89): 29-30 Grail Psalter)

On 17 December the Gospel at Mass is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, son of Abraham. (Mt 1:1). We are given by St Matthew Jesus’s line right back from Abraham to Joseph. Both Jesse and David are there. It is through Joseph’s legal adoption of Jesus that he becomes humanly part of the line that leads to David and his father Jesse.

When we first meet David he is out looking after his father, Jesse‘s sheep. The prophet, Samuel had travelled to Bethlehem to meet Jesse’s sons. It was among his sons God had told him he would find the future King. Samuel met all the sons except the youngest who was out looking after his father’s sheep. Samuel asks Jesse to send for him. When David appears:

The Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. (I Samuel 16:12-13)

Already, there are some parallels between David and Jesus. Jesus, we know, was originally from Bethlehem, and he too, was to care for his Father’s flock.

O Radix Jesse also echoes Isaiah 11:1:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

What follows in Isaiah 11 the first half of the chapter tells us the spirit of the prophets will be poured out on the coming Messiah. He will not only be a sign for the Jewish people but for all people.

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations enquire, and his resting-place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

This links in beautifully with the next section of the O antiphon.

O root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the nations;

We are then told:

 kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim.

Immediately we think of the three wise men from the east who followed the star which led them to the place where the child Jesus was: And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. These wise men represent the sign that the child born in Bethlehem would be saviour of all peoples, including you and me. Our roots must be in Christ. We must always prefer nothing to the love of Christ. If our stability is in Him, Christ will draw near to us. The light of the star of Bethlehem guided the wise men to that inner light that will deliver us from all harm. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Sr Andrea

Text and artwork ©Stanbrook Abbey 2024
The images are taken from the Jesse Tree Vestment, designed, made and embroidered at Stanbrook, Worcester, over a century ago.