Christmas Season · Second Sunday after Christmas Day · Year C

Sirach 24:1-4, 12-16

The Praise of Wisdom

January 2, 2028

Holy Wisdom sits enthroned in fiery red at the centre, with Christ above and the saints standing in a row beneath her.Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory in the midst of her people. In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory.Unknown Russian icon painterA painter of icons in the Yaroslavl school, one of the great centres of Russian church art in the seventeenth century.Yaroslavl Art MuseumThe Yaroslavl Art Museum on the Volga, whose icon collection is among the finest in Russia.Yaroslavl Art Museum

Roman Lectionary

GospelJohn 1:1-18Jn 1:1-18 orJohn 1:1-5, 9-14Jn 1:1-5, 9-14

Second ReadingEph. 1:3-6, 15-18Eph 1:3-6, 15-18

First ReadingSir. 24:1-4, 12-16Sir 24:1-4, 12-16

Responsorial PsalmPs. 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 (John 1:4)Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 (Jn 1:4)

Overview & Insights

“Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me, and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.” (Sirach 24:9)

In this famous poem, Wisdom praises herself in the assembly of the Most High. She came forth from the mouth of God and covered the earth like a mist, seeking a resting place among the peoples. At the Creator's command she pitched her tent in Jacob and took root in Israel, ministering before God in the holy tabernacle on Zion. The passage sings of Wisdom's presence with God from the beginning and her dwelling with his people, a portrait the church has long read alongside the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. It is appointed with John's prologue after Christmas, where the eternal Wisdom of God is seen taking up residence in the world.

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Take it further: Sirach 24:1-4, 12-16

Commentary

Sirach 24 (Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary)Sir 24 (Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary) StudyLight

The classic Catholic Douay-Rheims commentary's notes on Wisdom's self-description.

The Second Sunday of Christmas, Year C Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Brant Pitre connects Wisdom's origin in Sirach 24 to the Johannine prologue's Word.

Background & Word Study

Sirach, Chapter 24 (Douay-Rheims)Sir, Chapter 24 (Douay-Rheims) New Advent · Catholic Encyclopedia

The Catholic Douay-Rheims text of the chapter with cross-references.

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)Ecclesiasticus (Sir) New Advent · Catholic Encyclopedia

The standard Catholic introduction to the book: how it was written, in what language, and how it came to stand where it does.

Sirach 24 (NABRE, with footnotes)Sir 24 (NABRE, with footnotes) USCCB

The text as the Church reads it, with the notes that set the passage in its own moment.

Questions preachers ask

Why is Sirach 24 read after Christmas?

Its hymn of Wisdom, who comes from God and makes her dwelling among God's people, is heard as a foreshadowing of the Word made flesh in John's prologue, the Sunday's Gospel.

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