Magnificat

Looking ahead to the lections for the fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter Mary. Her story is well known, so there is no need to recount it here. It is enough to consider her response in the form of the Magnificat.

It is most certainly a play on the song of an earlier Mary, Miriam, the sister of Moses. Miriam sang her song on the the “good side” of the Red Sea. Mary sings her song, knowing a new deliverance is underway. This deliverance will be different; her song makes that clear.

With the support of her family and a visit from a messenger, Mary understands God is at work in the facets of her unfolding story. Mary recognizes that the child of her body is the fulfillment of God’s promise. She revels in her role, as she marvels in its significance.

We celebrate her place of honor in being a vessel of salvation for us. Her blessedness is bound together with her humble openness to God. We celebrate Mary, and with Mary, that we might be free to receive God’s blessing.


Sing Mary’s song.

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."