December 22 Advent Devotion Written by Jeff Wood

Trisha Huffman | December 22, 2015

Mary’s Song of Praise

46And Mary[a] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servants.

    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

50 His mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

    and lifted up the lowly;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”             —Luke 1:46b-55

I feel very honored to speak about this passage and somewhat incapable of fully uttering its magnificence. Yet I feel that we are all, as Christians, somewhat in Mary’s shoes. You see, I think that we are all pregnant with the Christ that is coming. I hope you aren’t seeing that as only symbolic. I have to admit I am a sacramental Baptist; for me the sacraments are not just symbolic, and neither is the idea that we are the ones who will be giving birth to Christ. When we decide to follow Christ, God empowers us with the love that is God and becomes Christ. You see, we are the ones charged with bringing Christ into the world. First let me say that this is a very heavy responsibility, but also an honor. As Mary says, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” There is always that moment for me in worship or in deep prayer when, for an instant, I feel like Mary. I fully recognize the Lord’s greatness. I see God lifting up those who are low yet genuine while taking those down who are high and completely inauthentic. I know I am blessed. Thankfulness fills my being and I am filled with the seed of goodness and mercy. Still, it’s easy to forget that moment when we are struggling with the actual day-to-day world of carrying Christ. Pregnancy is hard, and Mary’s journey is not over in this passage. There will be trials and suffering, fear and sorrow. These are the things we all will face.

As we walk toward the hour of Christ’s birth, let us be reminded of this song, that it may comfort us in the cold and darkness. Let us also remember that it is truly up to us to bring Christ into this world. There are millions out there who have never had the honor of singing this song. Yet they, too, are waiting, in prisons, in slums, in simple shacks, even mansions and corporate boardrooms. We must sing the song loud enough to get their attention. We must praise God for the life that is now inside us, soon to be brought forth. Our thankfulness will fill the darkest places of this world. 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.

Amen