Categories: hymns
Date: 14 November 2004 06:54:49
(Early by one day, but I won't be online tomorrow.)
| O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. | O Wisdom, who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High, reaching out mightily from end to end, and sweetly arranging all things: come to teach us the way of prudence. |
Wisdom is a word often said during Orthodox Liturgical Services: Wisdom: Let us attend; Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be with you all; The Doors! Let the doors be guarded. In wisdom let us attend. Thinking about this constant use of the word "wisdom", and reading the verses in Proverbs and 1 Corinthians associated with the above antiphon, I ponder the importance of doing all things in wisdom, but what does that mean? And what is Wisdom, and how does it play out in my life?
From my readings, and if I make errors I pray someone will correct me, we humans have wisdom, a gift from God [Proverbs 2:6 - "For the Lord gives wisdom"] and a gift which one must hold fast to and continue in. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10a), and the passages in Proverbs make it clear we must abide in it, or lose it.
Then there is the Wisdom of God. Proverbs 8:22-31 are wondrous verses spoken by Wisdom personified, who preceded creation ["When he established the heavens, I was there" (Proverbs 8:27a)]. How great the Wisdom of our God!
And last, but most definitely not least, "Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God" [1 Corinthians 1:30]. Christ is indeed Wisdom Incarnate.
May we all, through the grace of God, hear the invitation of Wisdom
...she calls....'Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!....Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.', reside and continue to reside in Wisdom.
Proverbs 9:3-6
Huw at Doxos and others more wise than I are also writing some meditations on the "Great O Antiphons". I'll provide links to their wise words as I see them appear.
May peace and wisdom be with you.