{"id":3518,"date":"2017-12-20T00:05:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T23:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=3518"},"modified":"2017-12-20T00:10:17","modified_gmt":"2017-12-19T23:10:17","slug":"2017-advent-joy-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/20\/2017-advent-joy-4\/","title":{"rendered":"2017: Advent Joy #4"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)<\/p>\n

Celebrations and jubilations! This is the 100th post<\/strong> since starting the blog on 7 March 2017.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MARY’S MAGNIFICAT JOY<\/em><\/p>\n

Luke 1:46-55<\/a>  (The Voice)<\/span><\/h3>\n

46<\/sup> Mary:<\/strong> My soul lifts up the Lord!
\n47<\/sup> My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
\n48<\/sup> For though I\u2019m God\u2019s humble servant,
\n God has noticed me.
\n Now and forever,
\n I will be considered blessed by all generations.
\n49<\/sup> For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
\n holy is God\u2019s name!
\n50<\/sup> From generation to generation,
\n God\u2019s lovingkindness endures
\n for those who revere Him.<\/p>\n

51<\/sup> God\u2019s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
\n The proud in mind and heart,
\n God has sent away in disarray.
\n52<\/sup> The rulers from their high positions of power,
\n God has brought down low.
\n And those who were humble and lowly,
\n God has elevated with dignity.
\n53<\/sup> The hungry\u2014God has filled with fine food.
\n The rich\u2014God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
\n54<\/sup> To Israel, God\u2019s servant,
\n God has given help,
\n55<\/sup> As promised to our ancestors,
\n remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h3>\n

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 \u2013 her reputation in tatters, her fianc\u00e9 threatening to break off the engagement (who could blame him?) \u2013 still, Mary responds positively. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Timothy Dudley-Smith’s Advent hymn, Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord<\/em>, based on Mary\u2019s song, is a firm favourite in our congregation.<\/p>\n