Advent
December 17, 2014
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46b-55
And Mary said,
‘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. — 1:46-50
Mary’s song, named the Magnificat, has been set to music by many composers from 17th century, Claudio Monteverdi to 18th century Bach, and 20th century John Rutter. It follows Luke’s theme of Christ’s ministry for the oppressed. One of the earliest songs or hymns of the church, it speaks to the heart of our call to love.
Mary identified her too-early pregnancy as the means of magnifying God. How do we magnify God? How do our lives open the eyes of others to the love of God? When I think back on the people who have impacted my life, I remember all those teachers who probably have not a clue how much their belief in me gave me strength throughout my life. Most of them I knew for only a year or so. The wisdom I gained from caring for patients in nursing homes not only from their words but from their total vulnerability wrapped in trust that all would be well. There are also many clients with whom I worked, where technically I was the one who was supposed to be helping them, but they magnified the love of God for me as they faced impossibly difficult life situations with dignity and peace.
I don’t think we can set a goal of magnifying God. Like with Mary any insight of our magnifying God comes in hindsight. We are called to love in all that we say and do and at the right time and right place our love will glow with God’s love and the people whose lives we touch may get a small glimpse of God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live a life worthy of magnifying your love. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.