“O STOCK OF JESSE” (DECEMBER 19)- A REFLECTION ON THE GREAT “O” ANTIPHONS FOR THE SECOND PART OF ADVENT

Today’s supplication to Christ at Mass and at Vespers goes thus:

“O Stock of Jesse, you who stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come and deliver us, and do not delay”

Dear friends in Christ, according to the promise, the Messiah would belong to the Davidic dynasty, whose stock is Jesse, which will spring forth. Put differently, a shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” (cf. Isaiah 11:1).  This prophecy describes the future hope of God’s people. This “stock” signifies the remnant of Jesse’s family that would barely survive. God’s judgment came upon Judah, and the nation was left with nothing but a seemingly lifeless “stock.” Thus, God promised to retain a remnant to carry on His work and the bloodline of King David. What seemed to be a dead, decaying stock would bring forth new life in the Messiah, Jesus Christ from the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, even though the tree has been cut down—symbolizing the people’s failed covenant with God, there is still hope because in the womb of the Virgin Mary (of the house of David) a shoot of Jesse sprang forth. Put differently, the inviolate, intact, and chaste bowels of Mary produced, like an evergreen meadow, a flower whose beauty will never know corruption and whose glory will never decline. Thus, the Child Jesus was born “in Bethlehem of Judea,” the city of David as a fulfillment of that promise. (cf. Mt 2: 5-6, Mk 5,1). In that sense, He comes to meet us and save us, liberating us without delay.