Third Friday of Advent 2021

 ~Today, we also begin the O ANTIPHONS during the LITURGY OF THE HOURS. This is a way to intensely prepare for the approaching CHRISTMAS SEASON. There will be a different "O ANTIPHON" posted each day until Christmas.

O Antiphon: O COME, O WISDOM from on high who orders all things mightily, to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in her ways to go.

Response: Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

Jesse Tree Story: DANIEL

Jesse Tree Symbol: THE PROPHET'S TABLET

Scripture: "I was still praying to the Lord, my God, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, presenting my petition concerning the holy mountain of my God. I was still praying when the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in a vision before, came to me in flight at the time of the evening offering. He instructed me in these words: "I have now come to give you understanding. When you began your petition, an answer was given which I have come to announce, because you are beloved. Therefore, mark the answer and understand the vision. Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and for your holy city. The transgression will stop and sin will end, guilt will be expiated. Everlasting justice will be introduced, vision and justice ratified, and the holy of holies will be anointed. Know and understand: From the utterance of the word that Jerusalem was to be rebuilt. Until there is an anointed ruler, there shall be seven weeks. In the course of sixty-two weeks, it shall be rebuilt, with squares and trenches, in time of affliction. After the sixty-two weeks and anointed one will be cut down with no one to help him. And the people of a leader who will come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. His end shall come in a flood: until the end of the war, which is decreed, there will be desolation. For one week, he shall make a firm covenant with the many; half the week he shall abolish sacrifice and offering; in their place shall be the desolating abomination until the ruin that is decreed is poured out upon the desolator."

Daniel 9:20-27

Commentary: Daniel was told in a vision the exact time when the Redeemer of the world would come.  "From the going forth to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks." 

Readings for the Day:
Genesis 49:2-,8-10
Psalm 72
Matthew 1:1-17