We
chant this evening’s antiphon, acclaiming Jesus as the “Root of Jesse.” And we
recall that he is the Origin and Source of all our good, all our hope, all our
longing. This antiphon is a kind of gloss on the words of the prophet Isaiah:
On
that day,
The
root of Jesse,
set
up as a signal for the peoples—
Him
the nations will seek out;
his
dwelling shall be glorious.
On
that day,
The
Lord shall again take it in hand
to
reclaim the remnant of his people
…He
shall raise a signal to the nations
and gather the outcasts of Israel...
Jesus
is truly the One who gathers and joins together in hope all peoples, scattered
by hopelessness, hate, and fear. As we name his “Root of Jesse,” we pray
especially for all refugees.
