Come, O Dayspring!
For Meditation (Corey Widmer)
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer,
Our Spirits by Thine Advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
The fifth great “O Antiphon” calls on Christ as the Oriens, a Latin word that can be translated “morning star” or “Day-spring.” Traditionally, this particular antiphon was recited on December 21, the Winter Solstice, also the darkest night of the year. It is beautiful that on the shortest, darkest night of the year, the historic church remembered and anticipated “the Day-star who has risen with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2). Jesus is the light of the eternal dawn that shatters the darkness of our sin-sick world.
But we can't truly celebrate the light until we take stock of the darkness. Light banishes darkness, and also exposes what is done in secret. The season of advent invites us to come out of the dark, to come clean with those parts of our lives that are stuck in sin, and to let the healing light of Christ bring new life and renewal. We can't welcome the light of Christ while hiding the truth of who we are. This is why Advent was often called a "little Lent," a time in the church year reserved for fasting and repentance as we prepare for the coming of the King.
As you prepare for worship this week, consider:
What in your life feels like it is in the dark right now?
What may God be calling you to bring out into the light this Advent?
Is there a place of darkness in our world that makes you yearn for the light of Christ to come? Take some time to pray about that now.
Isaiah 9:2, Luke 1:76–79
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”