December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book
On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the “O” Antiphons, expressed for us in the words of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
Sirach and Wisdom are part of what is known as the Apochrypha which is not in Protestant Bibles. The Apochrypha, however, is commended to be studied and read.
Sirach 24:1-2
Wisdom praises herself,
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory
Wisdom 8:1
[Wisdom] reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
