Dominion In The Image of God: Animals, Advent, and the O Antiphons

There are at least two things I love to do in Advent. One is to pray the O Antiphons, and the other is to visit at least one of venues near me that has an international nativity display. The O Antiphons always help to ground me through the close of Advent. They keep me focused on the true meaning of Christmas - the coming of Christ - through the hubbub of preparations and celebrations that, while wonderful and rewarding in their own ways, are nevertheless a distraction from the hope of the season.

The international nativity displays always fascinate me. I love to see how different cultures around the world have interpreted the nativity story. I especially love the ones that are set, not in the ancient middle east, but in the culture that created the nativity. It reminds us, I think, that Christ came not just once, long ago, but comes to each of us every day, right where and as we are, if only we will let Him. I love to see the different materials used, the different levels of detail included, the differing degrees of reverence and whimsy, and - of course - the different animals that show up in the manger! Christ is the savior of the world, near and far, with all its creatures. No one culture or species can make an exclusive claim on God's all-encompassing saving grace.

This year, with the animals in mind, I posted daily reflections on the O Antiphons on the Dominion In The Image of God Facebook Page. I've collected them here and added some photos of nativity scenes from around the world. Some of the nativity scenes are mine but most are from an exhibit at the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints near Washington, DC. While Advent is over and the "official" time for praying the O Antiphons is over for this holiday season, it is still Christmas until January 6, and there is never a wrong time to remind ourselves of our need for God's saving mercy.

December 17

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,

you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care:

Come and show your people the way to salvation.

We see here that “strong yet tender care” is the way that God governs creation, and that is the model we, created in His image, are to follow as we exercise the weighty responsibility of our dominion over God’s creatures. Strength and tenderness work in partnership. Strength and tenderness are the way of wisdom. Strength and tenderness will bring us to the way of salvation. There is no room for domination or exploitation in God’s dominion; nor should there be in ours.

December 18

O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel,

who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,

who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

There are many instances in which the holy law requires mercy and compassion toward animals. Most prominent is the Commandment to keep the Sabbath. That command expressly includes the animals, who, like human masters and servants, are to have a day of rest. Without rest for the animals, the Sabbath is not “holy.” Where is the rest for our animals in factory farms, animal testing labs, puppy mills, fur farms, and other settings?

Come, O ancient Lord of Israël, and set us free, and set the animals free from human abuse.

December 19

O Root of Jesse, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples;

kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you.

Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

The Root of Jesse, raised up as a majestic sign, before whom rulers are silent and nations bow, help us, as humans, to see the others in your creation. Help us to recognize that we are not all that matters, that before you we are as insignificant as the grass, and that, therefore, we have no standing to disregard any other creature you have made.

Come, O Root of Jesse, grant us humility, that as we beseech your aid, we may offer our aid to our fellow creatures, giving them comfort and succor instead of fear and pain.

December 20

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel,

controlling at your will the gate of heaven:

Come, break down the prison walls of death

for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death;

and lead your captive people into freedom.

It seems to me that the factory farming and intensive confinement that is at the heart of modern meat production are indeed for the animals “prison walls of death for those who dwell in (often quite literal) darkness and the (always literal) shadow of death.” In these systems our animals endure a kind of living death, in anticipation of the actual death of the slaughterhouse. They are not able to be the creatures God created them to be, nor to know any of the joy of his creation, but are born, live, and die in misery, all because of human avarice, gluttony, hubris, and vanity.

Come, set the animals free from the dungeons humans have created for them, O Key of David, and set the humans free from our sins that are the cause of such misery, that we may go forth and sin no more, learning that your creation, in its abundance, includes more than enough for all, if we only stop abusing your gifts; and learning, too, that we will all — human and non-human alike — share in your abundant life everlasting because you, who control the gates of heaven, have created us all and love us all.

December 21

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:

Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The animals are in sore need of the sun of justice, as they suffer in so many settings, with so few to speak on their behalf. Death from human hands is seemingly never far from them, be it at the slaughterhouse, from a hunter’s gun, loss of habitat, or some other cause. But let us spare a prayer, as well, for those who DO speak for the animals: for advocates and rescue workers, and park rangers, and veterinarians who often risk their lives to help animals, and who work tirelessly, seeking to brighten the darkness and the shadow of death that results from human cruelty.

Come, O Radiant Dawn, shine on the animals and those who work on their behalf, give them the hope of justice and surround them with your love.

December 22

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart;

O Keystone of the mighty arch of man:

Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.”

To this I can only add that the King of all nations is the joy of all His creatures’ hearts. The Psalms (among other scriptures) tell us that the animals praise God and look to Him for protection and provision, and that God, who called them “good” when He created them, loves and cares for them.

Come and save every creature you fashioned from the dust.

December 23

O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver,

desire of the nations, Savior of all people:

Come and set us free, Lord our God.

O Savior of all creation and all creatures, who came down from heaven and was made “sarx”, which means “flesh,” the same stuff of which humans and other sentient creatures are made, for whom all creation groans in anticipation,

Come, Emmanuel, and set us free. Show us how much we have in common with other peoples and other creatures, that we might more easily love them and thereby fulfill your will.