The first O Antiphon draws our attention to Jesus as Wisdom.
O WISDOM
O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You create the universe and hold all things together with strength and sweetness. O come to teach us the way of Truth.
I encourage you to take your time as you read this first of the seven O Antiphons. Pay close attention to how Jesus is described in the prayer. Who does the O Antiphon say Jesus is? And as you reflect on these words, how are you coming to understand who Jesus is?
THE SCRIPTURE READINGS: ISAIAH 11:2-3 AND JOHN 1:1-5
Read the antiphon one more time. Then read the Isaiah text.
Again, read the antiphon.
Then read John 1:1-5.
Read the antiphon one more time.
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
Finally, here is an accompanying song of Christmas that matches the antiphon. You can get it HERE.
THINK ABOUT IT: WHO IS THE SMARTEST/WISEST PERSON WHO EVER LIVED?
After all the years from Jesus to now, it is common to discount Jesus’ brilliance and wisdom. After all, he never had a class of algebra, Slavic history, or quantum physics. Surely there would be experts in those areas who know more about algebra, Slavic history, or quantum physics than a humble, first-century Jew who never traveled farther than 90 miles from his home in Northern Israel. But to think such a think gives away a poorly developed understanding of who Jesus is: with God before time, the creator of the universe and its laws of physics and the one who brought people groups into existence and saw them disappear. He is the one who set in motion what will become algebra, Slavic history, and quantum physics.
Surely, he deserves his due!
Dallas Willard is brilliant about this:
“He is not just nice, he is brilliant. He is the smartest man who ever lived. He is now supervising the entire course of world history (Rev. 1:5) while simultaneously preparing the rest of the universe for our future role in it (John 14:2). He always has the best information on everything and certainly also on the things that matter most in human life.” Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
Jesus is the smartest man who ever lived.
BENEDICTION
O Wisdom, who came from the Most High, come and teach us your way. We are lost and confused without You. Come soon, Lord Jesus, come soon! Amen.
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