Reposting this from our 2005 archives
Antiphon 1: O Wisdom
O Wisdom
December 17
Proverbs 8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Wisdom is God’s spokesman, the One who speaks the truth about God from the mouth of God. By wisdom the simple gain prudence, and the foolish gain understanding. Wisdom is more precious than jewels; wisdom’s gifts are worth more than gold. Wisdom is a gift from God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is knowledge and understanding shaped by the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Wisdom left its mark on the created order. Through Wisdom all things were created. Wisdom was with God before all things, and through Wisdom all things were made. The beauty of the stars, the splendor of the seas, the marvelous variety of birds and fishes, the intricacies of a DNA double-helix, the mystery of distant galaxies. These are Wisdom’s fingerprints. Science studies the fingerprints, but fails to see the hand. That must be perceived by faith.
Man turned away from God seeks knowledge without the fear of God. Information and facts. Study the creation without knowing the Creator. Worship the creature instead of the Creator. “You can be like God,” said the original Lie. “You can have knowledge without God. Just reach in for yourself and grab it.” That is not the way of Wisdom but Folly, foolishness, unbelief. “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” The end of Folly is death.
Jesus Christ is Wisdom incarnate, wisdom in the flesh. He is the “power of God and the wisdom of God.” “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He reflects the very glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.” He is the ‘glue’ that holds the universe together. Your cells, your DNA, a table, a chair – they hold together by the power of His word. It¹s what the scientists search for and long to find. The ordering wisdom of the universe. He is Jesus Christ – the One born in Bethlehem who hung on a cross and rose from the dead.
He teaches us the way of prudence, the way of Wisdom that leads to life. That way is the way of the cross, of dying and rising, repentance and faith. This way is foolishness to the wordly-wise, yet to those made wise through His Word and Spirit, it is God¹s creative wisdom to save. He will come to raise us one day. And then you who are wise in Him will shine as the brightness of the heavens.
original source: http://www.holytrinity.ms/new_page_5.htm
Lent & Beyond 