O Sapientia

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: Veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

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O Wisdom, you who come forth from the mouth of the Most High, and reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

This first of the Great O Antiphons highlights Christ's role in creation as divine Wisdom. This is a rich title for Jesus in that it represents not only the various passages from Wisdom literature which are quoted in the antiphon, but it points toward Wisdom literature as a whole where Christ Himself is seen as the Wisdom present at the creation of the world. This connects Jesus very closely to creation and, at the same time, takes on a new meaning when considered in light of the Advent season. In this antiphon, we see Christ as present throughout history. He transcends the limitations of the Old Testament tradition and hints at the new creation. Wisdom was with God at creation; Wisdom himself, as the person of Christ, renews this creation.

As this antiphon reminds us that the Lord is the one who reaches from "end to end" and orders all things "sweetly and mightily," it allows us to reflect upon our trust in His "order," our trust in his arrangements. It is easy to acquiesce to the Lord's ordering of circumstances when they are pleasing to us; it is a challenge to accept them when they interrupt our own order and our own plans. Let us, this day, pray for the grace to accept the circumstances that the Lord orders, trusting that his might and his sweetness will assist us. Let us entrust our day -- and our lives -- to his divine Wisdom.