Today a bit of Advent history:
The O Antiphons are used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are also used as the alleluia verses on the same days in the Catholic Mass. They are referred to as the “O Antiphons” because the title of each one begins with the interjection “O”. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture and also references a prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. (Wikipedia)
The first Antiphon – Christ our Wisdom!
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Isaiah says …
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
Paul writes to the church at Colossae …
… that they and we may know the mystery of God,
namely, Christ, in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary, points out, “The treasures of wisdom are hidden not from us, but for us, in Christ.” In Christ we have all that we need for life and Godliness.
Christ, be my wisdom today.
Quiet me within-
Tune my ear to hear your voice.
Bend my will to yours-
May I delight in you!
Glory to the Newborn King!
