Jesus, the Wisdom of the Most High

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

On December 17, our Advent prayer shifts to the consideration of Christ's first coming among us as a child in Bethlehem. Up until this time, we have been occupied with thoughts of his second coming.

The Church sings Mary's hymn of praise each evening in its Evening Prayer (Vespers). The antiphons that are sung before and after the "Magnificat" during this week before Christmas are called the great "O" Antiphons, so named because each begins with the letter or word "O." On December 17, we sing:

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.

This description of Jesus is important in that it describes the Messiah as "coming forth from the mouth of the Most High," which is significant in light of the Church's teaching, rooted in the first chapter of the Gospel of St. John, that Jesus is the incarnate Word of God the Father.

Isaiah, the great Messianic prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures says: . . .he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom. (Isaiah 28:29)