Scripture Reading(s)
Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b “My soul magnifies the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Reflections
This passage speaks volumes about God’s Grace and Mercy being poured out on mankind. When God appoints us to carry out His work, He does so because He sees potential in us that we might not see and knows that we are capable of whatever it is He has commissioned us to do. Mary’s response to God’s choosing of her to give birth to the saviour of this world is one that is filled with humility and thankfulness.
- Humility (47-49) Mary recognizes that she is still a sinner like everyone else and that she is not worthy to have the honour of giving birth to the son of God. She is overwhelmed that God would look down and see her and choose her to be the one who would play a role in God’s plan for salvation. She accepted the task with an attitude of humility and referred to herself as a servant. She refers to God as “Saviour” showing that she recognized her own need of a Saviour and that she knew the true God to be her Saviour. There is nothing in her response that shows that she is the one who is the object of adoration but God alone.
- Thankfulness (54-55) Mary recalls all that God has done for the nation of Israel. She recalls the love and mercy He has shown in the past and recognizes that the kind of love that is about to be shown is far greater then anything that God has shown them before. This kind of love goes beyond saving the nation of Israel from their enemies, this love is being extended to the entire world and the free gift of salvation is for everyone. Her heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving for what God has done and what He is about to do through her role as the mother of Jesus Christ.
[Featured image from onemilecreative.com]