2017: Advent Joy #4

(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)

Celebrations and jubilations! This is the 100th post since starting the blog on 7 March 2017.

MARY’S MAGNIFICAT JOY

Luke 1:46-55  (The Voice)

⁴⁶ Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!
⁴⁷ My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
⁴⁸ For though I’m God’s humble servant,
God has noticed me.
Now and forever,
I will be considered blessed by all generations.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
holy is God’s name!
⁵⁰ From generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures
for those who revere Him.

⁵¹ God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
The proud in mind and heart,
God has sent away in disarray.
⁵² The rulers from their high positions of power,
God has brought down low.
And those who were humble and lowly,
God has elevated with dignity.
⁵³ The hungry—God has filled with fine food.
The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
⁵⁴ To Israel, God’s servant,
God has given help,
⁵⁵ As promised to our ancestors,
remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.

Reflection

Mary, betrothed to Joseph the carpenter, could have been as young as 14. To get pregnant outside of marriage in the ancient world of the 1st century was a huge scandal. Mary would have been the talk of the town. Whose baby is it? Was it Joseph’s baby or was she pregnant by another man? Despite everything – her reputation in tatters, her fiancé threatening to break off the engagement (who could blame him?) – still, Mary responds positively.

She sings a song of joy that we call the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), selected as today’s reading. Her positive spirit is astonishing and her faith inspiring. She is so filled with the joy of the news of the angel’s revelation to her that her soul bursts forth into song. Mary’s focus is not on the potentially difficult circumstances she finds herself in, but on the amazing privilege that God in Heaven has bestowed upon her. Mary’s spiritual maturity and depth of faith is astonishing for such a young woman.

Timothy Dudley-Smith’s Advent hymn, Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord, based on Mary’s song, is a firm favourite in our congregation.

(Tell out my soul: Songs of Praise, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast)

Praying the psalms

⁶ We confess — there is nothing greater than You, God,
nothing mightier than Your awesome works.
I will tell of Your greatness as long as I have breath.
⁷ The news of Your rich goodness is no secret —
Your people love to recall it
and sing songs of joy to celebrate Your righteousness.

Psalm 145:6-7 (The Voice)