Cow Slobber and Poopy Diapers

The last CCD class before Christmas break, back when the DH and I were teaching 9th graders, I wrote this title on the blackboard.  This, I told the ninth graders, is our topic for tonight.

“Things that stink?” one girl asked, a bit amused and perplexed.  Other students giggled.

No, it’s about Christmas, I told them.  This became one of several nights in CCD when they all had that look on their faces that said, “That’s it.  She’s really lost it this time.  Should we bolt out the door now, or wait to see what happens?”  (They tried to mess with me, so I generally smiled and messed with them back.  Like the time I brought the CD of the rapping priest.  Or the Maronite chant music, which most Westerners would assume was Arabic/Islamic music.)

Cow slobber and poopy diapers.

The incredible, awesome, all powerful, all knowing God of the entire Creation becomes a tiny baby.  Aww, how cute and sweet is that?  Awesome, man!

Born in a stable.  In an occupied country.  To not-quite-married parents (Luke says they were betrothed, which was legally binding, but not quite marriage, yet).

Born to be placed in a food trough for animals.

Hmm.  On second thought, not quite so cute… but much more awe-inspiring and humbling.

I don’t care how the card companies like to make it look.  Or the people who design stained glass windows.  They tend to thrive on lovely art, not harsh reality.  So, we usually get the nicest, brightest, cleanest stable ever, surpassing even Martha Stewart’s.  Which is almost certainly not what it was.

Cows, I pointed out to the CCD students, do not have good table manners, leading to the exasperated expression, “Did I raise you in a barn!?!?”  Our moms didn’t mean it as a compliment to our good manners.

Hence, cow slobber enters the Christmas story.  Yes, the stable would have been made beautiful in a sense by the holy event taking place in it.  Yes, I would assume Joseph grabbed some fresh hay before tucking the baby in, but the fact remains, the trough had probably seen its share of slobber, and nary a steam-cleaner or bottle of disinfectant in sight.  Not exactly an “appropriate” throne for the King of Kings.

However, reading a commentary recently (I unfortunately forgot where I heard or read this; if you saw it, let me know, because I hate to use someone’s idea without attributing it to them), the point was made that the manger was, in fact, the perfect throne.

Jesus gave himself to us in the Eucharist, as the Bread of Life.  Sin turns us over to our passions, our animal instincts.  So, maybe the manger (from the French: manger, to eat) was yet another instance of God’s foreshadowing: here is the food, placed before animals, worthy of worship.  Just in case anybody missed the point, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the ”city of bread”.

(Also in the “cool foreshadowing” category is the fact that most stables in that region are caves, since wood is scarce, and a damp cave would’ve been fine for animals, if not fit for people.  And Jesus was buried in a tomb cut out of the rock.  In the first cave, Mary wraps Jesus in bands of swaddling cloth, traditional for infants at the time.  In the second cave, Mary helps wrap Jesus in bands of burial cloth.  And, just in case anyone missed those hints that the Messiah had come to die, the wise men show up bringing some really weird baby shower gifts, including myrrh, used to prepare bodies for burial.)

Poopy diapers, the second half of my title, should be a fairly obvious part of the story, but, again, we seem to kind of ignore it. 

There are some traditions (small “t”, not official big “T” ones) within the Catholic Church which say Mary just sort of had a vision of the Christ child, then reached out and took him in her arms.  Apparently, these stemmed from interpretations of mystics’ visions and the idea that, because Mary was conceived without sin, she was not subject to Eve’s punishment of “I [God] will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children…”  (Gen 3:16, RSV), and therefore gave birth without pain, which must have meant she didn’t give birth the normal way.  I would argue that Genesis does not say that there would have been no pain whatsoever without sin, only that it would have been much, much milder.  So, while it is theologically defensible to argue that Mary had relatively minor pain, I do not think it can be argued from that that she did not give birth like everyone else does.

Besides, the Bible and the Church have been pretty clear that, yes, Mary carried the Second Person of the Trinity in her womb for nine months.  What happens at the end of the nine months may not fit our ideas of “cute”, but birth is one of the normal parts of being human (sin is not; sin is an introduced defect).  Skipping that would be like saying that Jesus skipped being hungry, tired, etc., all the messiness of being human.

He could have made things easier for Himself, as the devil suggested in the temptation in the desert, when he mocked Jesus and dared him to turn the rocks into bread to feed his hunger.  But He didn’t.  As St. Paul tells us, Jesus was tempted in every way that we were, but did not sin.  He came to live our experience, not to understand us (He’s God.  He didn’t need to live it to understand our reality), but so that we would understand His love for us.  He didn’t take shortcuts, or else we could all say, “Sure, He didn’t sin, because He got to skip the hard stuff in life.  I don’t get that, so my sin is inevitable.”  No, Jesus came to prove that human nature was perfectable, that instructing us to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat 5:48) was not just an exercise in futility.

So, I think it is safe to assume that that lovely Divine Child had poopy diapers.  And maybe even the occasional diaper rash.

And that’s profoundly awesome.

Merry Christmas!

I had this lovely post all planned, with tons of shots of my frequently-mentioned nativity set.

Obviously, this is not that post.

Why?  Because it’s… oh, good grief!  It’s 3:14 am on Christmas morning.  The kids were wonderful at midnight mass (one hour of waiting (because if you aren’t there early, you won’t be sitting), half an hour of choir concert, one hour of mass).  And then they were hyper afterwards, so we let them watch the Gospel choir on the Glenn Beck Christmas special (like that was going to make them sleepy!).  And then they all had to be tucked in.  And I had to re-load the dishwasher for the third time today.  And load Christmas stockings.

Before mass, when I was theoretically going to have time to finish my planned post, I made a Christmas stocking for Crash, loaded the dishwasher, cleaned up dinner, folded cloth diapers, started cinnamon rolls for tomorrow morning, and conducted a bonfire, complete with catechesis on the theme “Jesus as the Light of the world”.  Of course, then I smelled like smoke, so a shower before mass was not optional.

Thus, no long post.

I’m having a lovely Christmas, but I really ought to be asleep, so I’ll be brief.  This shot is from my nativity set.  I made the little fire: battery-operated fake tea light, surrounded by salt dough bricks, topped off by carefully arranged twigs to hide some of the view of the plastic flame.  It even flickers.  And the tea light isn’t glued in; it just fits into the arrangement, so it’s easy to swap them out when the battery dies.  They’re in the stable, which, as is traditional and historical, is a cave.  More photos and how-to ideas in a day or two.

I pray you are all having a wonderful, fun, relaxing, prayerful Christmas.  God bless!

Blood Money and Health Care

My parents love the musical Jesus Christ: Superstar.  I hate it, for many reasons.  I could start with its denial of Jesus’ divinity, the hippie-like apostles complete with fawning feminine companions, the apparent sleeping arrangements of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, etc.  But, for all that, there are brief flashes of interesting bits.

One, in particular, came to mind tonight.  Judas has gone to the High Priest to negotiate handing over Jesus.  He starts out not quite sure he’ll do this.  The High Priest offers a bribe, which Judas angrily refuses with, “I don’t want your blood money!”  He persists, and Judas answers again, “I don’t need your blood money!”

Seeing an opening, the High Priest finds Judas’ pressure point: “Think of the things you could do with this money, think of the things you could do for the poor… It isn’t blood money, it’s (the High Priest gropes for a “nicer” word and another member of the council hisses, “A fee!”)… it’s a fee, nothing more.”

And Judas takes it.

It’s just the betrayal of innocent blood, right?  I mean, when you could do something for lots of poor people, what’s one innocent man?

(Now, I have issues with this interpretation.  Although Judas protested at a woman’s use of expensive perfume to annoint Jesus’ feet, insisting that the money would be better spent on the poor, some commentators think that that was because Judas held the charitable purse, and so would have been able to help himself to the money if it had been given to him.  Also, commentators point out that, as a zealot, Judas was seeking the military liberation of Israel.  There is some speculation that Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand by turning him over, expecting that he would then finally manifest himself as the all-powerful Messiah and kick the hated pagan Romans out.)

Still, purely as drama and commentary on human behavior, it’s interesting.

Especially tonight.

Tomorrow morning, the health care bill goes to vote in the Senate.  Early on the morning of Christmas Eve, after debates and preliminary votes scheduled over weekends and into the wee hours of the morning.  After closed-door discussions and amendments.  And blood money.

So much for transparency, no more government as usual, etc.  Same stories, different day.

Playing Judas is Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, with whom Lindy is none-too-pleased.  Apparently, she’s not the only one in Nebraska who’s upset over his shift.  You see, Nelson insisted that he’s a pro-life Democrat.  I’ve always had my doubts about that label; it often seems the “pro-life” Democrats are trotted out as cover for the increasingly radical pro-abortion positions of the Democratic Party.  Yes, maybe they can do some good.

And maybe they’re just window dressing until the Democrats get enough power to pass whatever pro-abortion legislation they want and can dump them.  In which case, the pro-life Democrats were accomplices in the evil.

Anyways, Senator Nelson had held out against the health care bill, insisting that pro-life language prohibiting taxpayer money from paying for abortions and ensuring conscience protection for pro-life medical professionals be included.  Then, suddenly, he announced he’s voting for the bill, since, after all-day negotiations, he had won language in the bill that will allow states to opt out of covering abortions.  All this, after Nelson had repeatedly insisted that he would help filibuster the bill if his pro-life amendment wasn’t included, which would’ve prohibited taxpayer money from paying for abortions anywhere.

Why the shift ?  Did he really get what he wanted?  Yes and no.  There are still no real pro-life protections in the bill; pro-life people’s tax dollars will pay for abortions in many states, even if abortion coverage is rejected in your state.

Senator Nelson, however, did manage to get Nebraska a sweetheart deal whereby Nebraska will not have to foot as much as other states for health care.  There are rumors that he was threatened with the loss of an Air Force Base, also, which is always a dramatic economic blow to an area.

Nelson joins the previous sell-out, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.  Apparently, consciences are up for sale in the Senate; too bad the rest of the states’ senators didn’t play coy and get taxpayer hand-outs for their constituents, too, huh?  Landrieu accepted a promise of $300 million for her state, claiming that it was for helping those still recovering from Hurricane Katrina by helping the state cover Medicaid costs.

Initial reports said the bribe… ahem… *fee, nothing more*… was $100 million.  Landrieu was quick to correct her record: “It’s not $100 million, it’s $300 million, and I’m proud of it and will keep fighting for it,” she told reporters, when asked.

Unlike Nelson, Landrieu is pro-abortion, but had voted against taxpayer funding for abortion previously.  This time, however, dissent was not going to be allowed, and we’re all going to pay for it, since that $300 million isn’t just going to appear out of thin air.  Through federal taxes or devaluation of the dollar from printing too much money, we’ll all get to pay for Sen. Landrieu’s Christmas present.

Rep. Bart Stupak in the House of Representatives actually held onto his morals, forcing the inclusion of pro-life language in the House version of the bill.  After Nelson caved, you’ll have to forgive me if I have my doubts if Stupak and the other pro-life Democrats in the House will maintain their position, or if more fat checks written on our bank accounts are being prepared for their states as we speak.

So, Nelson and Landrieu smile, reassure their constituents that they’ll “get theirs”, and rest comfortably in the knowledge that the Democratic Party won’t be disowning them for a vote against the health care bill.

It’s only innocent blood.  A few doctors forced out of business for refusing to do abortions.  A 30% increase in abortions over the more than one million done each year (from Planned Parenthood’s estimate on how many more women would get abortions if they could afford them or if they were covered by insurance).  Wait, that’s 300,000 more dead children and wounded mothers a year…

But, hey, that’s nothing against the voting poor, who will only remember their Medicaid got funded, right?

“It isn’t blood money, it’s… a *fee*, nothing more…”

Keep telling yourselves that.  It’s a catchy tune.

O Antiphons: day 7

O Emmanuel…

Oh, come, oh, 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.

Original text: O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

This would also be an appropriate place to note that the initial letters of each name, starting at the last day and going back to the first O Antiphon, are arranged to spell out “Ero cras!” or “Tomorrow, I will be there!”  So, to the church’s pleading that He come, Jesus replies that He will be here soon.

Revelation 22

[12]  “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.  [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”  [14]  Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.  [15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.  [16]  “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.”  [17]  The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.  [18]  I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.  [20] He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Christmas Decorating Styles

Walking around my neighborhood, and especially thinking of one particularly obnoxious example, I came to the conclusion that there are three basic Christmas decorating styles.  (Yes, I was avoiding thinking about Congressional shenanigans, 1 am votes, and all that junk.)

1.  Classic.  Predominantly white or multi-colored lights.  Green wreaths, usually red bows.  Maybe, if someone’s getting  a little crazy, you might get a white or gold bow.  Predictable, but lovely.  That’s the front of my house, below; I went with the Williamsburg-esque greens-and-fruits pattern, wreaths on upper windows, etc.

2.  Fun.  Usually multi-colored lights.  Sometimes strange colors.  Often inflatables.  Waving polar bears.  At the extreme, you get the houses with the “Tune in to 107.9 for synchronized music!” signs and the four-digit December power bill.  (That’s my backyard below.  As my husband said, it’s kind of mullet decorating: business out front, party out back.  Diva lobbied hard for purple lights, so we bought some really cheap ones, but they turned out to be more pink… which upset her not the least little bit.)

3.  I just like messing with people.  Ok, yes, maybe these people are Jewish, so they prefer white and blue decorations for the holidays.  Maybe they just like blue.  I don’t know.  But these lights suck your eyes out.  Neither the DH nor I can- I am not joking- focus on these things.  These are worse than the blue incandescents, worse even than the “white” but actually very blue LED’s.  I do not understand why there hasn’t been a nightly pile-up in front of that house, caused by drivers distracted by trying to focus on those ligths.  (The camera focused better than I can; it doesn’t do it justice.  It also doesn’t show that the snowflakes flash at the speed of dancefloor lights.)

Someone down the street from my parents did a whole 15-foot evergreen in these.  My dad referred to it as the “soul-sucking black hole tree.”  The next week, they added a spiral wrap of white, which caused my dad to upgrade its status to something like ”the whirling vortex of soul-sucking death tree.”

I’m not criticizing, just commenting.  They’re strangely addictive.  You just have to stare at them.

O Antiphons: day 6

O Rex Gentium…

O King of the Nations…

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Original text: O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

Psalms 24

[7] Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
[8] Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
[9] Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
[10] Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! [Selah]

1 Peter 2

[4] Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; [5] and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  [6] For it stands in scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and
precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  [7] To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,”
[8] and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.  [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
[10] Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.

Isaiah 28

[14] Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!  [15] Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
[16] therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: `He who believes will not be in haste.’  [17] And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

O Antiphons: day 5

O Oriens…

O Radiant Dawn…

Tonight, on the longest night of the year, the Church calls on Christ as the coming Dawn, Light into the world darkened by sin.  (According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, via NOAA, the winter solstice occurred at 12:47 pm today.  Under the Julian calendar at the time of its establishment (before it got 14 days out of whack with the sun and was replaced by the Gregorian calendar), Dec. 25 was the solstice.)

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Original text: O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

Malachi 4:2-6

[2] But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. [3] And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.  [4] “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.  [5] “Behold, I will send you Eli’jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.  [6] And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”

Luke 1 (from the Canticle of Zachariah)

[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
[77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, [78] through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high [79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John 1

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was in the beginning with God;
[3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
[7] He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
[8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
[9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. …
[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

O Antiphons: day 4

O Clavis David…

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Original text: O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.  (from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist postings on the O Antiphons)

Isaiah 22:

[15] Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him… [19] I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station.  [20] In that day I will call my servant Eli’akim the son of Hilki’ah, [21] and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.  [22] And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.  [23] And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house.  [24] And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.

Isaiah 9:

[1] But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb’ulun and the land of Naph’tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
[2] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
[3] Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy;
they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest,
as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
[4] For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid’ian.
[5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
[6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Matthew 16:

[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare’a Philip’pi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?”
[14] And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli’jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
[15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
[16] Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.  [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
(all Bible quotes are Revised Standard Version)

O Antiphons: day 3

Yes, yes, I’m behind (I’m posting this Sunday night)…

O Radix Jesse…

O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Original text:

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

Isaiah 11:

[1] There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.  He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.  [5] Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.  [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.  [7] The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  [8] The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.  [9] They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.  [10] In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.

“The Peaceable Kingdom” by Edward Hicks (he did many versions of this vision from Isaiah)

Romans 15:

[8] For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, [9] and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name”; [10] and again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; [11] and again, “Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; [12] and further Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” [13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(all Bible quotes are Revised Standard Version)

O Antiphons: day 2

O Adonai…

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Original text:

O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm.

Note: “Adonai” means simply “Lord” or “Master.”  It was commonly substituted for the name of God YHWH, “I AM” (often rendered “LORD” in English translations), in order to avoid accidentally misusing His name.

Exodus, chapter 6: [1] But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, yea, with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”  [2] And God said to Moses, “I am the LORD.  [3] I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.  [4] I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they dwelt as sojourners.  [5] Moreover I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold in bondage and I have remembered my covenant.  [6] Say therefore to the people of Israel, `I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment, [7] and I will take you for my people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’”
(Revised Standard Version)