O Come O Come Emmanuel

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Originally Published in the South Jetty
"O Come thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go." (Hymn from the 9th Century) 

Throughout the season of Advent, we will sing through all eight verses of "O Come Emmanuel," until we, at last receive the gift of God-with-us. St. John's Gospel calls it Logos: the Word. It is the ordering principle of the universe. It is Sophia, the Holy Wisdom who was there in the beginning of creation with God. She who dwelt with God and moved through prophets through the ages and in the fullness of time is birthed through Blessed St. Mary in the person of Jesus Christ. Emmanuel means "God-with-us" and that is what we pray for through the song. Week by week, we wait and watch for God who "orderest all things" in the beginning to come dwell among us to order the chaotic corners of our lives and our world. 

We also pray that when the Wisdom arrives that we are open to be shown the path and to follow. That may be the most difficult part of this whole experience of God-with-us. Will be be open enough to follow, or will our hearts remain hardened? Will we bunker down behind internet sales and inflatable snowmen trying to barricade ourselves from the transformation that comes with encountering God-with-us? Will we be too blinded by twinkling lights to see the new things God is doing among us? It may seem easier to stay in the sentimental realm that we call Christmas, than to open our hearts allow a force so powerful as God-with-us being birthed into the creation in Jesus Christ. 

It's no wonder that John the Baptist headed out to the wilderness; out away from things, out away from any distraction as he quoted Isaiah's ancient words: "In the wilderness, prepare a highway for our God!" 

When we dare to invite Holy Wisdom to reenter the creation she created with God, we had  better get ready. When we prepare for Christ's Incarnation, we had better prepare. We might start with a song of invitation and continue by opening our eyes to God's work in the world around us. In the end, it is about what God-with-us initiates and reveals, and our faithful response: being willing to follow.

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