Antiphons in the Darkness: O Adonai

 O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the Bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law of Sinai: come and deliver us with an outstretched arm.

Moses was called out of darkness by a flame of fire burning, but not consuming the bush. It is from this bush that Moses catches fire and himself burns with a fire that does not consume him. This characterizes a leadership which is not his. People see in him the spirit and authority of God. We, too, are called out of darkness, a darkness in which we cling to our own authority unknowing of its transience and insubstantial nature. When the light comes, human authority will be shown up for what it is. Only those who shine with the light of God will possess anything of real worth; even then they will possess it only by virtue of the fact that it possesses them. It is in the light of God's authority that we become in Him an Holy Nation. It is not just the lamp of God's wisdom that needs to burn in our hearts and lives; it is also the fire of patriotism, seeing God as our Ruler and Christ our King. We must seek the will of God in our lives, allow ourselves to be set on fire with love for Him and, in that love, give it generously to those around us, so that they, too, can see His marvellous light.