The theme for this fourth Sunday of Advent is love. More precisely God’s love. God’s love is what Paul talks about in his letter to the Corinthians. Hard and crunchy, and utterly faithful. The Hebrew word for “covenant love” is hesed, that peculiar, immersive, active, transformative love that God shows for Israel and requires of us as well (see Micah 6:8). It is a love that eternally pursues all creation, creating a just world where all thrive. Christmas is all about this love. Also on this Sunday, we also traditionally focus on Mary. We Anglicans are not sure what to make of Mary. Over the centuries she has been Mary mother of God; Mary the fourth member of the Trinity (that one didn’t fly so well); Mary the eternal and blessed virgin; Mary the Theotokos (God bearer); Mary the humble, meek and obedient servant of God; or just Mary who happened to be Jesus’ mother but otherwise is not so important. Unlike the other New Testament writers who are more low key in their presentation of...
