Advent

I was asked recently to post something about Advent on another site. Several people are working together to have a different message each day. My day to write was yesterday. I thought I would just repost it here, to share with all of you.

Myra’s Advent Meditation

(from the Latin text of the 12th century)

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. 


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Emmanuel, Rod of Jesse, Day-Spring, Key of David——Lord of Might.
He is Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Who is Israel? Through God’s grace, His salvation is extended to all peoples of the earth——to you and to me, personally, it’s as if we are Israel.  Could you say these words?

“Please come, Jesus, and pay the ransom for me, for I am a captive. I am mourning over my condition and circumstances, and oh, so lonely. I have been rejected. But when You come, you will pay the ransom. I will rejoice, for I know that You are coming….

Free me from Satan’s rule over my life! Save me! I am destined for the depths of Hell! Give me victory over the grave.  I will rejoice, for I know that You are coming.

Please come, Jesus, and make me shout for joy! Take away my depression and my fear of death. I will rejoice, for I know that You are coming….

Heaven is locked up, so that I may not enter. You are the key that will open it’s doors for me, so that I may live inside someday. Create a passageway from this life to eternity with You—and close off forever the slippery slope that leads to unending misery.  I will rejoice, for I know that You are coming…..

Please come, Jesus! You are mighty! It was You who revealed Yourself to people, long ago. You gave them Your law to guide them. They were in awe of You and Your majestic glory.  I will rejoice, for YOU ARE COMING!”