As we continue our Advent journey, let us do so in the spirit of Mary’s song, rejoicing from the depths of our soul that God has looked upon us with favor, that God is coming to us anew, and that we will see in Jesus Christ, the humble yet strong way to live faithfully.
As Christmas comes, we sing the Magnificat with Mary. The Magnificat is the magnificent song that Mary sings from the depth of her soul.
My spirit magnifies the Lord. My soul rejoices in God my Savior, for God has seen fit to look upon me. From now on, all generations will call me blessed. God has shown strength with a strong arm. God has lifted up the lowly and pulled down the powerful from their thrones. God has sent the rich empty away and filled the hungry with good things. In all these ways, God has shown mercy from generation to generation. With my soul, I praise the eternal God.
Mary sings of her own meekness and humility. She’s been overshadowed by the greatness of God. Her song points us to the posture of Christmas receptivity.
As we very soon read the story in [Luke] Chapter 2 of the birth of Jesus, of the appearance of the angels, shepherds, of their instructions to them to go and find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. An unlikely place and very unlikely apparel for the King of Kings, the Ruler of all, the Savior of the world. And yet this is a sign of Christmas.
As we kneel before the manger, as we light candles on Christmas Eve, as we worship on Christmas day, let us do so in the spirit of Mary’s song, rejoicing from the depths of our soul that God has looked upon us with favor, that God is coming to us anew in this magnificent event and that we will see in Jesus Christ, the humble yet strong way to live faithfully all the days of our lives and to finally inherit the gift of God which is eternal life.