O Rex Gentium

The O Antiphon for 22nd December is O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations).

‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ Isaiah 2:4

I am constantly amazed at the breadth of Isaiah’s vision. The Messiah is for all the nations.

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.