O Rising Sun - 21st December

"O Rising Sun, 

you are the splendour of eternal light

and the sun of justice.

O come and enlighten

those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death."

In today's antiphon we greet Christ as the "Rising Sun" and "sun of justice"; the one who comes to guide and enlighten us. This links in with Malachi's prophecy "for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings" (Mal 4:2). This message that Christ is the one who enlightens and heals us is particularly important in the darkness of the world today - a world of seemingly unending violence and war, a world where many people can see no way out of financial problems, sickness or addictions.

 

In response to this Jesus himself gives us a message of hope: "I have come as light into the world that whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness" (Jn 12:46). It is not that Jesus promises to get rid of all the difficulties and hardships, but he is with us to give us the light and strength we need to walk through them and not stumble or have our way blocked in darkness.