O Mary

During these final days of Advent, we have been examining each O-antiphon in turn, looking through each round window to the images within, which are symbolic expressions of the deepest longing of the human heart, as well as real petitions for the people of our time.  We began by comparing each ‘O’ to the womb of Mary, containing within it the Promised One whom we desire, the fulfillment of our hope.  Let us not forget that they are written as antiphons for the Song of Mary, her Magnificat, sung daily at Vespers.

Mary is the one who stands for all humanity in humble love before her God, and who stands before all humanity as a sign of God’s love.  She who sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” shows forth in her body and in her whole life the greatness of God, in whom her spirit rejoices:
“For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Lk 1:48-9)

Mary is the woman of power and beauty, standing on the moon, clothed in the sun, who extends her protecting veil to the people of the world.  She cries out God’s preferential care for those in trouble:
“He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Lk 1:51-53)

Mary is the daughter of Israel, the desiring one, the longing one, the voice of generations of expectation.  She tells of God’s fidelity to every generation:
“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation….  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Lk 1:50, 54-55)

We stand in the name of the Church and for the people of the world we pray with the voice of Mary: Come to us, O Wisdom, O Adonai, O Root, O Key, O Dawn, O King, O Emmanuel, come to us, fruit of Mary’s womb, Jesus.  As you were born as a baby in Bethlehem, be born in us today, in love, in power, in mercy.

Image: Madonna and Child, by Marianne Stokes