The Antiphon for December 22 is O Rex Gentium or O King of Nations. The antiphon’s text reads,

O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

It draws its text from several passages in the Bible including the following,

Hag. 2:7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Is. 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

King of Nations, king of our desiring
Come to your creation, square it and right
Mending the marred, rebuild, never tiring
Of pulling out darkness, ripping out night.
Builder and joiner, dovetail and make one
As keystone bridge the pillared-arched ceiling
Tear down hatred’s walls, make righteousness run
And cross-armed gather make whole, bring healing.
In concretion, cohesion, hold us, King
Sustain us by your presence and power
Make us your’s, seal in promise as as ring
Wed us in love beneath banner and bower.
The King of desiring climbs in the clay
Lays as cornerstone midst manger and hay.

© Randall Edwards 2017
This poem is for Christ’s church. If it is helpful, please feel free to copy or reprint in church bulletins, read aloud, or repost. I only ask that an attribution be cited to myself (Randall Edwards) and this blog (backwardmutters.com). Thanks.