"Emmanuel: Glimpses of God Incarnate," December 18

Sunday, December 18

Proverbs 8:12-14

“Holy Wisdom”

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go. “O Come, Emmanuel,” Glory to God 88

THIS HYMN STANZA paraphrases an ancient prayer for the final days of Advent: O Sapientia—O Wisdom, coming from the mouth of the Most High. In the prayer and the hymn, we can hear these verses from Proverbs, where God speaks as Wisdom. Alongside the gifts of wisdom—advice, insight, strength—there is also the curious word attain: “I attain knowledge and discretion.” Wisdom is the speaker. What does it mean for Holy Wisdom Herself to “attain knowledge”?

"Sages, leave your contemplations; brighter visions beam afar." Angels from the Realms of Glory, GTG 143

These Epiphany Magi also seek wisdom. Something is increasing for them: an Epiphany star, an Advent road. Maybe the contemplations they set aside are not tranquil, but, like ours, weary, sorrowful, dis-eased. These Wise Ones must be ready for something else, because they meet us with a question: Where is he? Their question and their road are also ours. What visions beam far or near? Where is Wisdom-with-Us, born in a manger?

"Shepherds watch and wise men wonder; monarchs scorn and angels sing." Who Would Think That What Was Needed, GTG 138

Writer Toni Morrison said in a 1991 lecture, “Wisdom is not merely what works or what succeeds, nor is it a final authority. Whatever it is, it will always be a search.” Searching is everywhere in the gospel birth stories— roads, vigils, questions, flights, stars. Matthew and Luke must have wellworn copies of Proverbs on their shelves. They teach in dreams, signs, songs, and wonders; even the boy Jesus, says Luke, increased in knowledge. This is Emmanuel: God-with-us, loving us enough to grow alongside us. Who would have thought, indeed?

– Eric Wall, Assistant Professor of Sacred Music & Dean of the Chapel