THE OLD CATHOLIC MISSION IN SUSSEX

O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for thepeoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shallhave recourse.  Come, save us, and do not delay.

Isaiah 52:13, 15; 53:2: "See, my servant shallprosper...So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shallstand speechless. ...He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot".

Isaiah prophesied a restoration of David's throne - a new branch budding out of the old root.  Christ is the root of Jesse in a two-fold sense: he is the descendant of David, who was the youngestson of Jesse, and he inherited the royal throne.  The angel foretoldto Mary, "The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be withoutend" (Luke 1:32-33).

Our hearts more and more urgently cry out forGod's reign to extend over all humanity: "Come, save us, and do not delay".