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Home » The O Antiphons: O Sacred Lord – O Adonai

The O Antiphons: O Sacred Lord – O Adonai

December 3, 2014 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

O Sacred Lord - O Adonai

We continue our reflections on the O Antiphons with O Adonai or O Sacred Lord

Because the Hebrews believed the name of God was too holy to speak or even write, they used the word Adonai, which means Sacred Lord or simply Lord, to refer to the Holy One.

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

God’s relationship with the Hebrews as his Chosen People was first manifested with his choice of Moses to lead the Children of Abraham out of slavery and to a promised land. Their choseness was not for privilege but as the vehicle through which the world might be reconciled to Him.

From the burning bush, “The Lord said [to Moses] I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry against their taskmasters, so I know well what they are suffering…” I have come to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”(Exodus 3:7-8)

In Egypt the Children of Israel were welcomed as the family of Joseph, but as their numbers increased they became unwelcome guests. The Exodus transformed them into a nation. The making of a nation requires a great leader- Moses; a common experience of tribulation- slavery; territory- the promised land, and law. It Was at Sinai that this last element was added.

“Moses went up to the mountain of God. Then the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying: This is what you will say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now, if you obey me completely and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession among all peoples, though all the earth is mine. You will be to me a kingdom of priests,* a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:3-6)

The path to redemption which we call the Economy of Salvation continued to move forward in the Lord’s mysterious ways.

This post is also available in/Esta entrada también está disponible en: Spanish

Filed Under: Advent

← The Pope and the Patriarch: A Unique and Unprecedented Relationship O Antiphons: O Root of Jesse – O Radix Jesse →

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About Bishop Farrell

Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell was appointed Seventh Bishop of Dallas on March 6, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
   
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