“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.”

Today’s O Antiphon emphasizes God’s lordship, His supreme power over everything in creation. The antiphon reminds us of God’s consistent track record of manifesting Himself to His people, and the promise that His mighty hand will indeed set us free. That freedom has already been initiated by God for every person who has died and risen spiritually with Christ through baptism. It will reach its fulfillment at the point when Christ comes again in the full majesty of his lordship to judge humanity. That event is the primary thing we anticipate during the Advent Season, and the reward it will usher in for Christians who persevere is the ultimate aim of Christian existence in this life. As these last busy days of Advent pass, let us not forget that ultimate aim so that we can celebrate the Nativity of Christ with our eyes fixed on the ultimate prize.