O Antiphon for December 21 - O Radiant Dawn

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O come, thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh:
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

By the tender mercy of our God,
   the dawn from on high will break upon us. (Luke 1:78)

Praise the Lord!
   Happy are those who fear the Lord,
   who greatly delight in his commandments. 
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
   the generation of the upright will be blessed. 
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
   and their righteousness endures for ever. 
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
   they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
   who conduct their affairs with justice. (Psalm 112: 1-5)

But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4: 2-3)

‘Who is this that looks forth like the dawn,
   fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
   terrible as an army with banners?’  (Song of Solomon 6:10)

. . . the people who sat in darkness
   have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
   light has dawned.’ (Matthew 4:16)

Dayspring. Dawn. The time when the darkness of night begins to lift, the shadows slowly fade, and light radiates from the rising sun to brighten a sleeping world. Jesus comes like the dawn, imperceptible at first, but persisting, ever growing in intensity like the light that cannot be stopped, growing in the womb of the Virgin until His birth. 

Dawn. No human can stop the sun from rising or cause the darkness to persist past its time. Jesus is the Dawn. He will rise. The darkness will be dispelled. It happens every day and it will happen in every life. Even those who live their lives in spiritual darkness will, upon their deaths, see the Dawn Who will come. May He give them one last chance to enter the Light.

Lord, You are the Dawn that dispels the darkness of sin, that enters the gloom of my fears and the blackness of my hates. You, if I but throw open the windows of my soul, will dissipate the fog of my fears so that trust blossom. You, O Dayspring, will dry up the swamp of my hatreds so that roses of love will blossom. My Dawn, the Light of my life, You, the Sun of Justice, let me turn my face to Yours so that You may enlighten me. Amen.