For God has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure.
~ 2 Samuel 23:5b
We read this passage from the last words of King David last Sunday. It is one of the many instances found in scripture of the repeated promise of eternal covenant with the people of Israel. And it is something we need to always remember as Christians. Because there is a strain of theology and worship in our tradition that claims that we now have this covenant relationship and the Jews have lost it. However, this cannot be because God does not break promises, so our work must be to imagine another way in which we are both in covenant relationship.
This issue is called supersessionism, and it is a form of antisemitism. Because our liturgy and music is handed down to us containing pieces from over decades and centuries, we sometimes end up with language and images that play into supersessionism, and it’s something we need to pay attention to and respond to. One of my life-long favorite hymns – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – unfortunately falls into this category. You have only to look at the first verse: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
I am a big believer that what we do and say and sing should match with what we believe and mean. And I’m not along. Several years ago some theologians from Boston College wrote a commentary on this hymn (see link below) and then revised the lyrics (see second link below). These are words we will be singing this Advent season. It is a seven verse hymn and so what we have decided to do is sing 2 verses each week during our Gospel procession, layering the texture of this ancient hymn with a contemporary theology throughout the season. If you are interested in learning more about supersessionism I have copies of an article by Dr. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski of Seminary of the Southwest I can share with you. I invite your reflections as we move through the season of Advent and come close the Mystery of Christmas.
In peace,
Kristin+
Commentary on Revised Lyrics O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/research_sites/cjl/texts/cjrelations/resources/education/OCE_commentary.htm
Music and text for Revised Lyrics to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/research_sites/cjl/texts/cjrelations/resources/education/O_come_Emmanuel.pdf