The "O" Antiphons: Adonai/Lord

“O Adonai, Lord and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.”

 

Lord is not a word I use everyday, except when talking about “The Lord.” Maybe I would if I lived in medieval times, or even if I lived and England and was discussing the House of Lords. But I don’t; and so lord for me is restricted to “Lord,” capital “L,” as in the Lord God Almighty.

 

In Wolof the word that is used for Lord—Borom—is an everyday word. Borom Keur gi is the one in charge of the house. Borom Charette is the guy who drives the horse cart, delivering building supplies or talking away trash. Borom Boutique is the guy in charge of the shop. Borom crevette is the door-to-door fresh seafood salesman, who sings out “quality shrimp, very fresh.” And Borom Bi (capital B on both counts) is The Lord.

 

As much as I like reserving a title (or more than one) for God alone, it is somehow reassuring that there is an everyday-ness to the way we talk about God. Yalla Borom Bi, The Lord God, the One In Charge of Everything, I guess, or simply The One in Charge. I like the paradox of such a title over against the not-so-everyday-ness of the burning bush. Or the mighty power of the one who alone can save us.

 

Kai, Borom Bi. Come, O Lord.

 

Advent Paradox,

Peter