Mary's Song

"My soul glorifies the Lord
          and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
  for He has been mindful
          of the humble state of his servant.
  From now on all generations will call me blessed,
          for the Mighty One has done great things for me -
  holy is his name."

Luke 1:46-49

 

In many churches who follow the Revised Common Lectionary, next Sunday's scripture is Luke 1:47-55. Often called The Magnificat, based on the first word of the first verse in Latin (Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum), this song of Mary is truly some of the most beautiful and telling words in scripture.  It is Mary's joyous prayer in response to her cousin Elizabeth's greeting (Luke 1: 41-45). It is also a microcosm of the results of God's grace for the world.

 

Mary's first words express praise and thanks to God. Isn't that the way we should all approach the Almighty, the Creator of all that is? She also claims her own humility, her smallness in the shadow of God's power and might. 
Next, she claims the miracles foretold by the old testament prophets. The Messiah, her child, will be the one who brings justice to the world at last.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
          and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
          and the rich He has sent empty away.

Luke 1:51-53

Later, when Jesus teaches in the synagogue, He used similar language from the prophet Isaiah to describe his ministry: 

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
           for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
           that the blind will see,
           that the oppressed will be set free,

and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Luke 4:18-19

The gifts Jesus wants from us are peace and justice, not flashy gifts. What if all the money spent on gifts for each other this Christmas were instead used to obliterate hunger? What if our gluttonous feasts were delivered to the local jails and prisons? This is the response Jesus desires from His disciples.

 

Mary's Song is both personal and universal. A poor unwed teenage mother-to-be expresses her faith in the God of all humankind and holds on to that God during her most difficult times: while fearing the legal ramifications of her pregnancy (being stoned to death), as a refugee in Egypt, all the way to the foot of the cross. This simple young girl, in the face of poverty, homelessness, and even death, chooses to have faith. She relies on God and God alone. When the wealthy kings arrived and presented the poor child with gifts of great material value, Mary didn't glory in the wealth. No, she "kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often." (Luke 2:19)

 

The heart has always been the place where the Christ-child makes his home. We are asked to submit our bodies and our minds to God's will, but it is in our hearts that the Holy Spirit dwells. As we prepare our houses for the holiday season, let us prepare a home for Christ in our hearts. And may Mary's Song remind us to be a part of the solution for the poor, the oppressed and the ones who most need the love of God in their hearts.