“And Mary said: "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.” (Luke 1:46-48 NIV)
In October, the Men’s Chorus sang the spiritual, “I’m Gonna Sing when the Spirit says sing” for worship. The song describes well the song the Mary sings in our Gospel reading this Sunday. The Holy Spirit comes upon hMary when the angel Gabriel gives her the announcement and she responds, “I am the Lord's servant. (Luke 1:38a NIV). Then she sings.
“The church has been singing Mary’s song, the Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55) for centuries. Like the Psalms, its truths span generations and cultures. What does Mary’s song have to say to us this final Sunday in Advent?
“Two things: We experience God both as an intimate, embodied presence and as a cosmic force changing the world. Mary is a teenage virgin from a cast-off town. She has done nothing remarkable, yet God’s grace transforms her. God chooses to dwell in her womb, bringing the divine to earth in an unexpected way.
“So too, God come as near to us as our very breath. With this breath, this Spirit, we can sing. But we also sing of a God that turns the world upside down. After Mary praises her savior for the almighty things done for her personally, she announces that God has lifted up the lowly, sent the rich away empty, and scattered the proud. Her song is a justice song, a song proclaiming how God will set the world aright. Intimate and cosmic—this is the essence of her song and the God we worship.
Mary’s song, finally, is a gift of the Holy Spirit. As we prepare for Christmas, let us give thanks for God’s nearness, for the breath that allows us to sing. Let us also be courageous witnesses, announcing God’s unexpected grace. The Spirit will strength us in our singing and living because ‘For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37 NIV)’”1
1. Baker-Trinity, Jennifer. Soli Deo Gloria. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2011) pg. 12.
My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my life through. Great and mighty are you, O Holy One, strong is your kindness evermore. How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart.
You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and up lifted the humble of heart, You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part. Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice strong your love, As you promised to Sarah and Abraham, kindness forevermore.
(Magnificat from Holden Evening Prayer by Marty Haugen)
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