O Rising Sun

O Rising Sun, splendor of eternal light and sun of justice, come, and illuminate those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. 

Here we pass from the darkness of the O Key of David to the breaking light of dawn, from the prison to the promise of a new day. The hope for freedom which was hidden in the previous antiphon breaks forth into a day which realizes those hopes. It is hard not to feel, at least, a little hopeful on a bright morning, even if the night before has been a fearful one. The dawn comes with a new start and a chance to turn away from the darkness towards a light which reveals the good in the world.

And I think we need this dawn all the more as we close out this year. All the hopes and expectations that we had at the beginning of this year look rather different as we reach the end of the year. Momentous and disturbing events have happened this year whose import or impact we cannot yet know. That can lead us to fear and to the darkness that fear can bring. It is understandable to feel that the light has failed and that we are left in darkness.

Yet, this antiphon doesn't leave us in the darkness, but affirms the power of light and the power of justice. It shines light into places where, perhaps, we don't want to look with the promise that somehow, sometime, this too will be made subject to God's justice and will be redeemed as the good thing that God had made of it. It brings to light the hope which can sustain us in times which seem less than promising. It is the hope that God can fix this- all of this. That can be a comfort, but also a challenge because it asks us whether we are willing to look at what the light of dawn reveals and hope for a better day. What hope does the light of dawn reveal in you?

Reflection: How can you bring light to those around you?