Family Tree

 

"O Root of Jesse" is today's antiphon. Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem, was the father of King David, whose dynasty finally came to an end with the Babylonian Exile in 586 BC. Around that time the prophet Isaiah said, "But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom (11:1)." Even though the family tree has been cut down, a shoot will grow out of the stump (many shoots in this picture). Someday a descendant of Jesse's will continue the royal line. Luke in his Gospel tells us "So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee for Judaea, to David's town called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and line of David." (Luke 2:4)
The Latin antiphon is addressed to the "Root of Jesse," but it is really the shoot growing out of the root that we are praying to, so let's try:
"O Blossom from the root of Jesse,
you have sprung up as a sign for all peoples.
Kings stand silent in your presence.
The nations bow down in worship before you.
Come quickly to free us."