At the heart of December we feel the chill of the season. Yet our hearts burn for an event that quickly approaches! It is an event that is the historical game changer of the immense cosmos!

This event changes the trajectory of the entire universe. For in one silent night, time ticks to a new direction. The Kairos of God breaks into our chronological time. Time now ticks infused with love revealed in the vulnerability of a child. Word becomes flesh and captivates the human imagination. This event captivates the human soul and invites us to change and live for heaven. We call it the Incarnation and is affectionately known as Christmas.

If this event is true, how can we best welcome it into our lives? We can do this through music. Not just any music, music set to ancient text.

Once upon a time, I had the privilege of leading young hearts to Christ. I was Music Director at Saint Joseph Parish in Vacaville for three years. It is a chapter in my life etched in my heart. This time of the year, reminds me of an exciting piece we worked on for the Advent Season. Here we are at a rehearsal session. Take a listen as it sets up the idea shared in this post.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel is the sound of the Advent Season. The text of this hymn are what we know as the O Antiphons. Every day from December 17 to December 23, the Church prays the O Antiphons at Evening Prayer. The O Antiphons date back to at least the eighth century. Drawn mostly from Old Testament prophets.

O Antiphons express a groaning from the depth of the soul. The text begs God to come to us. The text helps us cry from the depths of our hearts. Our cry is the cry of Israel in its full force and voice. This is Israel’s longing to welcome the fulfillment of God’s promises.

We journey together in the days ahead on the texts that will draw us closer to the Incarnation. Let us journey together!

I invite you to follow these posts in the days ahead. Let these small meditations prepare us well welcome Emmanuel … GOD WITH US.