“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

LUke 1:46-56

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

This scripture passage is commonly referred to as Mary’s Magnificat. It is Mary’s song of praise after learning she would give birth to Jesus Christ. The word Magnificat (magnifying) comes from the very first word of Mary’s song of praise in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. It was Mary’s way of saying, “I will magnify/glorify God in my life.” Not a bad way to start a song, nor is it a bad way to start each day.

In the song we learn some things about Mary. She rejoiced in God her Savior. She was humble. She understood that she was an instrument through which God worked. She understood mercy and how that carries on from generation to generation. She understood how God viewed the world and the dangers of being proud, abusing power, and ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable among us.

Psalms was the prayer book of the Jewish people. Undoubtedly, Mary had heard these prayers sung time and time again. I can’t help but think that Psalm 146 might have been on her mind when she sang this song of praise. Psalm 146:5-10 states, “Blessed are those whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in it! God, you keep faith forever: you secure justice for the oppressed; you give food to the hungry; you set captives free; you give sight to the blind; you raise up those who were bowed down; you love those who do justice; you protect strangers; you sustain orphans and the bereaved, but you thwart the way of the corrupt. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.”

Throughout the Sundays of Advent, we have been focusing on the theme of waiting…waiting with hope, peace, joy and love. This Sunday we are discerning what it means to wait with joy. In Mary’s Magnificat we find great joy. There is joy in recognizing and magnifying the holiness of God and understanding our place in the world in all humility, as well as recognizing God is on the side of those whom the world has forgotten and ignored. Joy in life is not found in the latest gadget or trend or being popular, but in aligning ourselves with a God who is working among the least of these in our world.

Mary understood this at the earliest stages of her life and was able to sing about it so faithfully. This is “Mary’s Song”, but the invitation for all of us today is to make it our song as well.

Prayer:

Merciful God, like Mary, we sing a song of praise to you today. We magnify your name and glorify you. Help us to align with you in caring for the most vulnerable among us. May we experience your joy today, not in being self-centered caring only about ourselves, but in considering how we might humbly serve and bring joy to others in Christ. Amen.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

Based on your relationship with Christ and your understanding of what Christ expects of you, what would be the lyrics to your song of faith?

How do you practice humility?

How are you magnifying Christ in your life?

What makes Mary “blessed”?

Mary sings that God “has scattered the proud,” “brought down the mighty from their thrones,” and “sent the rich away empty”. What is the nature of “pride” and “might” that God opposes?

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