Hosanna In the Highest

I sit near the Advent wreath in our Choir Chapel, opposite the stained glass window that includes symbols of the prayer life of a Benedictine. I noticed that the swinging censer in the window is perfectly framed by two of the candles on the Advent wreath. How appropriate, to celebrate the birth of Emmanuel with joyful prayer and praise! In a breathtaking act of humility and love, God has come to earth as one of us, to experience our life, offer guidance and healing, and give us a share in his divinity; what could be more wonderful than that?

Then I noticed a station of the cross image on the other side of the wreath where Jesus has fallen under the weight of his cross. He experienced a painful consequence of being human when his message of love threatened the power of political and religious leaders and he was condemned to death.

For Jesus, as for all of us, birth and the cross are linked. The birth of a baby is generally greeted with celebration, but we all carry the cross of our flesh that inevitably leads to death. The good news we celebrate at Christmas is that God is with us in all of it—birth, death, everything in between, and everything to come after we are resurrected in Christ. Therefore, as we celebrate Christmas, it is right to meditate on the following prayer, known as Eucharistic prayer II:

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, creator of the world and source of all life. For you never forsake the works of your wisdom, but by your providence are even now at work in our midst. With mighty hand and outstretched arm you led your people Israel through the desert. Now, as your Church makes her pilgrim journey in the world, you always accompany her by the power of the Holy Spirit and lead her along the paths of time to the eternal joy of your Kingdom, through Christ our Lord. And so, with the angels and saints, we, too, sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.”