Tomorrow the preparation of Advent turns to celebrating the Nativity of our Lord.
Tomorrow Concordia Seminary is closed until January 3rd so that our students and workers can spend time with family and in spiritual re-creation. During this time of rest, I’ve been kindly invited by the Lutheran Laymen’s League to ride on the Lutheran Hour float in the Rose Bowl parade January 2nd. I’ll wave to you! The Minute will resume on the 6th.
This week we’ve looked at the “Great O Antiphons” to count down to tomorrow. Each addresses Jesus with a different title. O Sapientia (Wisdom), O Adonai (Lord), O Radix (Root), O Clavis (Key), O Oriens (Dayspring), O Rex, O Emmanuel.” If you take the first letter of each Latin title, starting at the end, you get two Latin words: Ero Cras, which translate, “Tomorrow I will be there.” That’s Jesus’ answer to our yearnings, “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).
“O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”
“Come, Lord Jesus!” “Tomorrow I will be there.” “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Revelation 22:20; Romans 15:13).