Thought for the Day – 21 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations for Advent
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“O Sapientia”
Before the Feast of Christmas, the Coming Saviour is welcomed in seven Antiphons which greet Him under various titles and entreat Him to Come quickly to enlighten and deliver His people.
“O Wisdom, Who camest forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching in Thy strength from end to end and sweetly disposing all things, Come and teach us the way of prudence.”
- The first Title given to Jesus is that of Wisdom. He is the Eternal Wisdom of God and the Source of all wisdom to men from one end of time to the other. With Him, is all wisdom; without Him, is no wisdom.
Yet I have sometimes fancied myself wise when I was acting quite apart from Him and perhaps, His wishes or commands. What utter folly!
+2. It is the Eternal Word Who disposes all things sweetly.
Everything which happens in Heaven or earth, is arranged by Him and is arranged not unkindly, or harshly, or bitterly but sweetly. Why then do I regret what I ought to know He has arranged sweetly, i.e. with designs of love for me, if I take it in the correct spirit?
+3. Come and teach us the way of prudence.
This is our first petition to Him, Who is to Come.
If only He imparts prudence, all must be well.
Prudence chooses the correct end, that is, the glory of God and the means to that end, – that which we know God asks of us now in our present circumstances. Teach me, O Jesus the lesson of prudence which will guide me safely to the Kingdom of Heaven.
AnaStpaul 