Wisely Ordering Things - Day One of the O Antiphons

In the Christian tradition of the Western Church, the last seven days of Advent are celebrated with a series of "O Antiphons" which speak to and of the Annunciation, with seven distinct names for Jesus. The antiphons are typically used at vespers in evening prayer. 

Here is a part of Wikipedia entry on the O Antiphons:

They are referred to as the "O Antiphons" because the title of each one begins with the interjection "O".^[1] Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:

• December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
• December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
• December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
• December 23: O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)

The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose.^[4] If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one—Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia—the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come". Therefore Jesus, whose coming Christians have prepared for in Advent and whom they have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to them: "Tomorrow, I will come." So the "O Antiphons" not only bring intensity to their Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

So today's O Antiphon speaks of Jesus , the One who is to come, the One who is to bring us Wisdom.  And here is the antiphon:

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.

Today I invite us to listen to the way in which our God would have us mightily and sweetly order our lives. The way in which God might have us provide for more margin in our lives. 

Today's psalmist says: grace is poured upon your lips. And so I invite us acknowledge and embrace that grace, that wisdom; to talk with our loved ones and friends this day about ways in which we can help each other to make and mind the margin in our lives, for the sake of God's hope and dream for us in this world. 

I invite us to take some time during a meal, or after school or work, or in a phone call or email or letter, to initiate a conversation about ways in which we might make more time for God (hopefully to be ongoing), with those about whom we care and whose help and opinion we trust and respect. 

Today's spiritual practice is grounded in sharing our wisdom with each other. 

O Wisdom, tomorrow you will come.

Psalm 45

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל-שֹׁשַׁנִּים, לִבְנֵי-קֹרַח;    מַשְׂכִּיל, שִׁיר יְדִידֹת.	1 For the Leader; upon Shoshannim; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.
ב  רָחַשׁ לִבִּי, דָּבָר טוֹב--    אֹמֵר אָנִי, מַעֲשַׂי לְמֶלֶךְ; לְשׁוֹנִי,    עֵט סוֹפֵר מָהִיר.	2 My heart overflows with a goodly matter; I say: 'My work is concerning a king'; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
ג  יָפְיָפִיתָ, מִבְּנֵי אָדָם--    הוּצַק חֵן, בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֶיךָ; עַל-כֵּן בֵּרַכְךָ אֱלֹהִים    לְעוֹלָם.	3 You are fairer than the children of earthlings; grace is poured upon your lips;  therefore God has blessed you for ever.
ד  חֲגוֹר-חַרְבְּךָ עַל-יָרֵךְ גִּבּוֹר--    הוֹדְךָ, וַהֲדָרֶךָ.	4 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, your glory and your majesty.
ה  וַהֲדָרְךָ, צְלַח רְכַב--    עַל-דְּבַר-אֱמֶת, וְעַנְוָה-צֶדֶק; וְתוֹרְךָ נוֹרָאוֹת    יְמִינֶךָ.	5 And in your majesty prosper, ride on, in behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness; and let your right hand teach you tremendous things.
ו  חִצֶּיךָ, שְׁנוּנִים:    עַמִּים, תַּחְתֶּיךָ יִפְּלוּ; בְּלֵב, אוֹיְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ.	6 Your arrows are sharp--the people fall under you--[they sink] into the heart of the king's enemies.
ז  כִּסְאֲךָ אֱלֹהִים, עוֹלָם וָעֶד;    שֵׁבֶט מִישֹׁר, שֵׁבֶט מַלְכוּתֶךָ.	7 Your throne given of God is for ever and ever; a sceptre of equity is the sceptre of your kingdom.
ח  אָהַבְתָּ צֶּדֶק,    וַתִּשְׂנָא-רֶשַׁע: עַל-כֵּן מְשָׁחֲךָ אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ, שֶׁמֶן שָׂשׂוֹן--    מֵחֲבֵרֶךָ.	8 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
ט  מֹר-וַאֲהָלוֹת קְצִיעוֹת, כָּל-בִּגְדֹתֶיךָ;    מִן-הֵיכְלֵי שֵׁן, מִנִּי שִׂמְּחוּךָ.	9 Myrrh, and aloes, and cassia are all your garments; out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
י  בְּנוֹת מְלָכִים, בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶיךָ;    נִצְּבָה שֵׁגַל לִימִינְךָ, בְּכֶתֶם אוֹפִיר.	10 Kings' daughters are among your favorites; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
יא  שִׁמְעִי-בַת וּרְאִי, וְהַטִּי אָזְנֵךְ;    וְשִׁכְחִי עַמֵּךְ, וּבֵית אָבִיךְ.	11 'Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father's house;
יב  וְיִתְאָו הַמֶּלֶךְ יָפְיֵךְ:    כִּי-הוּא אֲדֹנַיִךְ, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִי-לוֹ.	12 So shall the king desire thy beauty; for he is thy lord; and do homage unto him.
יג  וּבַת-צֹר:    בְּמִנְחָה, פָּנַיִךְ יְחַלּוּ--עֲשִׁירֵי עָם.	13 And, O daughter of Tyre, the richest of the people shall entreat thy favour with a gift.'
יד  כָּל-כְּבוּדָּה בַת-מֶלֶךְ פְּנִימָה;    מִמִּשְׁבְּצוֹת זָהָב לְבוּשָׁהּ.	14 All glorious is the king's daughter within the palace; her raiment is of chequer work inwrought with gold.
טו  לִרְקָמוֹת, תּוּבַל לַמֶּלֶךְ:    בְּתוּלוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ, רֵעוֹתֶיהָ--מוּבָאוֹת לָךְ.	15 She shall be led unto the king on richly woven stuff; the virgins her companions in her train being brought to you.
טז  תּוּבַלְנָה, בִּשְׂמָחֹת וָגִיל;    תְּבֹאֶינָה, בְּהֵיכַל מֶלֶךְ.	16 They shall be led with gladness and rejoicing; they shall enter into the king's palace.
יז  תַּחַת אֲבֹתֶיךָ, יִהְיוּ בָנֶיךָ;    תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ לְשָׂרִים, בְּכָל-הָאָרֶץ.	17 Instead of your fathers shall be your sons, whom you shall make princes in all the land.
יח  אַזְכִּירָה שִׁמְךָ, בְּכָל-דֹּר וָדֹר;    עַל-כֵּן עַמִּים יְהוֹדוּךָ, לְעֹלָם וָעֶד.	18 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise you for ever and ever.