O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

It is from this root of Jesse’s stump that all true freedom from death and sin shall bloom and flower. Jesus Christ is the flower of hope for our troubled world. Isaiah prophesied that David’s throne would be restored, with a new branch budding out of the old root. Christ is of the root of Jesse because he is the descendant of David, who was the youngest son of Jesse, and it is he who inherited the royal throne. The angel foretold to 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 without end” (Luke 1:32-33)