Fifth Antiphon – Radiant Dawn

Oriens – Radiant Dawn, Dayspring

The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. Isaiah 9:2

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

It is no coincidence that the church chose to celebrate the coming of the Light of the World during the dark of winter when people long for sunlight to break open the cold and dark. 

 There is still much darkness in the world and we long for the brightness of God's love. 

 It doesn't take much light to change the darkness. God's light has already begun to break through and we bear that that light today even as we long for the time when we no longer need the sun or the moon.

O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.