Advent Reader - 9th December

9th December 2019

Luke 1: 46-56

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And 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 mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Mary's Christmas message

Mary’s Magnificat or Mary’s song is a Holy Spirit inspired force from the soul of a faithful God-fearing young woman. Mary’s passionate words are just as relevant today as they were then.

Mary runs off to visit a member of her family who was called Elizabeth, who is dealing with what is seemingly a great impossibility of her own. It’s a beautiful and fantastic scene of unthinkable impossibilities becoming reality. Both women carrying a miracle within their womb.

And so, Mary bursts out into song celebrating a God who up lifts the humble and brings down the proud. The God who feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty handed. It’s enough truth to bring revival to believer’s hearts this cold but wonderful festive Christmas period.

The story of God Himself, taking on human flesh and entering our world as a child. No human religion has conceived this as the One True God, Our God, came not to satisfy passions, but in fact left His royal throne in order to satisfy Divine justice for all humanity by later dying on an old rugged cross.

Many religions have a god but not one has a god who would do such a great feat as this. This is the story that needs to be told this year and every year.

Mary and Mwiya