Fourth Sunday of Advent
2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89; Rom 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
If Advent serves as a kind of overture for the full symphony of the Gospel, its themes descend from the powerful announcements of the prophets about God’s intentions to the near silence of the divine entry into Creation. The Word slips into history at the remotest edge of the empire, marginal to Jerusalem itself, to Galilee of the Gentiles, to a hill country hamlet, to a teenage girl on whose consent hangs the salvation of the world.
Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel is an exquisite duet between divine courtesy and human freedom. The angel’s proposal moves from greeting and reassurance to questions and explanation. Mary is already full of grace and crosses the threshold into a faith deep enough to hold the unknown implications of her consent. The Incarnation is a whisper as the Spirit hovers, the virgin becomes a mother and human hope receives a new destiny.
In the continuing pandemic when all stages are shuttered, the only refuge we have as theatergoers is to watch the computer screen.
At best, theaters are attempting to employ their actors and stagehands and provide us with much needed diversion. Unfortunately they haven t as yet conquered that dreaded Hollywood Squares look which has plagued us all with actors emoting in their own tiny little boxes. This might bring us close to them, certainly a lot closer than in the tenth row, but it seems to enforce their own separateness. They re acting alone, usually in their own home, interacting with their fellow players who may very well be miles away in their own house. It s a very disjointed experience for them and for us. But it s all we have for the foreseeable future.
then you have the prosecutor s office saying yeah, right. kind of like, we still think they re guilty. in 2016, michigan lawmakers passed the wrongful imprisonment compensation act calling for the state to pay exonerated prisoners $50,000 for every year spent behind bars. the hire brothers have sued the state for just over $1.2 million each. the michigan attorney general s office told us the matter is under careful review but said it could not comment further on pending litigation. for now, tommy and ray continue to celebrate their freedom and bond with the people who help make it happen. like mary, whose facebook post started everything. did you ever imagine you would actually cause such a thing? no. no. not in a million years. it s hard to get my head around it. it s awesome feeling. sure. kevin, who shies away from taking credit. i happen to be a lawyer.
community, including alums like mary, explaining harvard s position in this lawsuit by students for fair admissionswhhn americans are discrinat against by harvard s affirmative action program. this case is probably headed to the supreme court. i think trial s going to start later this year. and what it shows is that harvard s going to fight for diversity with all its might, even if that means taking away spots from asian americans. paul: kim. a hit to the united states, canada and mexico for winning the right to host the 2026 world cup, beating out morocco. what i love about this is it s a reminder that the united states is strongest when it works with its closest allies, not against them. the u.s. lost out on a bid, a recent bid to host the cup and the people who voted this time made it clear that canada and mexico clinched the deal. maybe we can remember that on issues like trade and immigration too.
letter to the wider harvard community, including alums like mary, explaining harvard s position in this lawsuit by students for fair admissions which is arguing that asian americans are discriminated against by harvard s affirmative action program. this case is probably headed to the supreme court. i think trial s going to start later this year. and what it shows is that harvard s going to fight for diversity with all its might, even if that means taking away spots from asian americans. paul: kim. a hit to the united states, canada and mexico for winning the right to host the 2026 world cup, beating out morocco. what i love about this is it s a reminder that the united states is strongest when it works with its closest allies, not against them. the u.s. lost out on a bid, a recent bid to host the cup and the people who voted this time made it clear that canada and mexico clinched the deal. maybe we can remember that on issues like trade and