For_PRP decades_NN2 ,_PUN friends_NN2 and_CJC I_PNP have_VHB enjoyed_VVN a_AT0 treasured_AJ0 ritual_NN1 of_PRF attending_VVG the_AT0 Christmas_NN1 concert_NN1 at_PRP a_AT0 nearby_AJ0 public_AJ0 university_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 concert_NN1 lasts_VVZ for_PRP two_CRD hours_NN2 with_PRP the_AT0 last_ORD 60_CRD minutes_NN2 devoted_VVN to_PRP a_AT0 cantata_NN1 of_PRF sacred_AJ0 music_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 experiences_NN2 have_VHB been_VBN unspeakably_AV0 powerful_AJ0 so_CJS much_AV0 so_AV0 that_CJT the_AT0 audience_NN1 is_VBZ asked_VVN to_TO0 hold_VVI the_AT0 applause_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 end_NN1 to_TO0 sustain_VVI our_DPS reverence_NN1 and_CJC assimilation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Christmas_NN1 message_NN1 ._SENT Different_AJ0 ones_NN2 of_PRF us_PNP have_VHB been_VBN moved_VVN to_PRP tears_NN2 as_CJS we_PNP rose_VVD from_PRP our_DPS seats_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 packed_AJ0 hall_NN1 ._SENT Unfailingly_AV0 ,_PUN we_PNP are_VBB also_AV0 gripped_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 radiance_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 students’_AJ0 faces_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 light_NN1 in_PRP their_DPS eyes_NN2 even_AV0 though_CJS not_XX0 all_DT0 of_PRF them_PNP are_VBB of_PRF the_AT0 Christian_AJ0 faith_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 is_VBZ something_PNI transcendent_AJ0 in_PRP their_DPS singing_NN1 beyond_PRP gifted_AJ0 vocal_AJ0 chords_NN2 and_CJC perfect_AJ0 harmonies_NN2 ._SENT 
The_AT0 scriptures_NN2 today_AV0 present_VVB us_PNP with_PRP songs_NN2 that_CJT tumble_VVB forth_AV0 from_PRP people_NN0 to_PRP whom_PNQ God_NP0 pledged_VVD deliverance_NN1 from_PRP oppression_NN1 ,_PUN unimaginable_AJ0 fruitfulness_NN1 ,_PUN God’s_NP0 own_DT0 faithfulness_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC God’s_NP0 participation_NN1 in_PRP our_DPS individual_AJ0 and_CJC collective_AJ0 lives_NN2 ._SENT 
Micah_NP0 extols_VVZ the_AT0 vision_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 people_NN0 —_PUN forgotten_AJ0 ,_PUN downtrodden_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC wayward_AJ0 —_PUN to_TO0 be_VBI restored_VVN in_PRP triumph_NN1 through_PRP a_AT0 kingship_NN1 of_PRF righteousness_NN1 ,_PUN justice_NN1 and_CJC peace_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 responsorial_AJ0 psalm_NN1 and_CJC Paul’s_NP0 letter_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 Hebrews_NN2 remind_VVB us_PNP that_CJT what_DTQ God_NP0 desires_VVZ is_VBZ not_XX0 unaffordable_AJ0 sacrifice_NN1 to_TO0 satisfy_VVI rituals_NN2 imposed_VVN from_PRP the_AT0 outside_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 people_NN0 are_VBB to_TO0 turn_VVI to_PRP God_NP0 ,_PUN pay_NN1 attention_NN1 to_PRP God’s_NP0 message_NN1 that_CJT they_PNP are_VBB worthy_AJ0 and_CJC loved_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC let_VVB divine_AJ0 grace_NN1 sanctify_VVB their_DPS lives_NN2 ._SENT 
Bursting_VVG in_PRP songs_NN2 of_PRF praise_NN1 and_CJC deep_AJ0 gratitude_NN1 are_VBB Mary_NP0 and_CJC Elizabeth_NP0 ,_PUN both_AV0 totally_AV0 overtaken_VVN by_PRP God’s_NP0 actions_NN2 in_PRP their_DPS lives_NN2 ._SENT One_CRD pregnancy_NN1 ends_VVZ the_AT0 scourge_NN1 of_PRF barrenness_NN1 ,_PUN while_CJS the_AT0 other_AJ0 moves_NN2 beyond_PRP illegitimacy_NN1 and_CJC impossibility_NN1 to_TO0 play_VVI the_AT0 central_AJ0 role_NN1 in_PRP birthing_VVG the_AT0 savior_NN1 for_PRP all_DT0 times_NN2 and_CJC all_DT0 people_NN0 ._SENT They_PNP sang_VVD not_XX0 from_PRP their_DPS achievements_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC from_PRP the_AT0 presence_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Lord_NN1 who_PNQ loves_VVZ ,_PUN forgives_VVZ ,_PUN redeems_VVZ ,_PUN and_CJC renews_VVZ them_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC acts_NN2 in_PRP tangible_AJ0 ways_NN2 to_TO0 fulfill_VVI the_AT0 divine_AJ0 promise_NN1 ._SENT 
We_PNP too_AV0 have_VHB our_DPS favorite_AJ0 songs_NN2 and_CJC carols_NN2 ._SENT We_PNP sing_VVB along_AVP with_PRP words_NN2 that_CJT form_VVB automatically_AV0 on_PRP our_DPS lips_NN2 with_PRP memories_NN2 of_PRF and_CJC nostalgia_NN1 for_PRP seasons_NN2 past_AV0 ._SENT Yet_AV0 ,_PUN do_VDB the_AT0 words_NN2 have_VHB power_NN1 over_PRP us_PNP :_PUN are_VBB we_PNP gripped_VVN by_PRP Emmanuel_NP0 —_PUN God_NP0 with_PRP us_PNP ?_SENT Is_VBZ Isaiah’s_NP0 vision_NN1 of_PRF turning_VVG swords_NN2 into_PRP plowshares_NN2 and_CJC lions_NN2 and_CJC lambs_NN2 reposing_VVG in_PRP peace_NN1 simply_AV0 poetry_NN1 with_PRP no_AT0 purchase_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 fears_NN2 that_CJT spawn_VVB our_DPS competitiveness_NN1 ,_PUN selfishness_NN1 ,_PUN violence_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC divisiveness_NN1 ?_SENT 
