O Wisdom

O Wisdom, uttered by the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end of earth to the other with great power, yet ordering all things with gentleness, come!  Teach us the way of prudence!

O Wisdom, where do you dwell?  What is the way to your home?  How does one live well?  How does one die well? (1)
You know the way, believe in the one whom the Father has sent.  We do believe, Lord, increase our faith!  What does that look like?
Believing means trusting the Father’s almighty power and goodness, in his universal plan of salvation which reaches from end to end, from the beginning to the consummation of the ages: God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son  that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. (2)
Lord, do you sense our longing for you?  Is not longing a cry? (3) All the world’s joy and pain mingle about you.

JESUS, SOUL’S REDEEMER, OUR LOVE AND OUR   DESIRE, CREATOR GOD OF ALL THAT IS, MADE MAN IN THESE LAST TIMES.  WHAT KINDNESS HAS ENSLAVED YOU THAT YOU MUST BEAR OUR SINS, MUST DIE THE CRUELEST, HARDEST WAY TO SAVE OUR SOULS FROM DEATH? (5)

How is it, Lord, that you did not disdain to share our lot in this valley of tears?
It was the only way to win your trust.

JESUS, YOUR NAME AND YOUR MEMORY ARE THE DESIRE OF OUR SOULS. (6)

[1] A word to readers: There are three voices in the dialog: the narrator, the choir or disciple; Jesus or the Father.  The theme of longing brings together cries from Scripture and liturgical pieces which, laden with theology as they are, nourished my prayer through a lifetime of Advents. 
[2] Jn 3:16
[3] St Bernard, Sermon 74 on the Song of Songs
[4] Hymn, Ascension Vespers, Cistercian Office for Lay Sisters
[5] Isa. 26:8