Luke 1:46-57

 

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.

 

Travel is different today than it was in Mary’s time. This may seem obvious, but when you sit and think about how long it used to take people to cover relatively short distances before the 20th century, it makes sense that Mary would have spent three months with Elizabeth. Visiting loved ones who lived in a different part of the country used to be an enormous and time-consuming undertaking! Now think about that in the context of our lives today. Is it even possible anymore? Do we just pick up and go somewhere for three months? How could we actually leave the busy lives we lead and go be with a loved one for that long!?

Some years back I went to visit my sister in the States. She was recovering from major surgery and although I was only able to stay for just over a week, I wished I could have been there longer, as I knew she still needed help when I left. I was grateful for the time I was able to be there to look after the kids and the house and cook and do whatever else she needed, but I found myself longing for the days when a much longer visit would have been appropriate and expected. Not so today…the ease and speed of travel meant that I was able and expected to return home to my own life and responsibilities as soon as possible. 

It was a difficult time for my sister and her family, but wow did I see God at work! She recovered very well and was a trooper during the process. Though I wished I could have been there for as long as Mary had visited Elizabeth, I felt okay to leave her because I knew she was in good hands–God’s hands. Leaving my own life and my own family behind for as long as my sister needed me would have been ideal in many ways, but not realistic. 

Life in Mary and Elizabeth’s time was much slower. Modern life is fast-paced and demanding, and we are responsible for juggling many different demands, commitments, careers and the needs of our families. These are all good things, and they are full of blessings and joyful moments, even when they are stressful. But sometimes we need to drop it all and go stay with loved ones for as long as we are able to, soak in the memories, and be glad we did. No regrets.

Our timelines and lifestyles may not allow for us to spend as much time with our far-away loved ones as we would like, but what about an hour, an afternoon or even a weekend? One of the beautiful things that comes with modern life and modern technology is the ability to connect in many different ways, even when we are not able to be there in person. This will look different for everyone, but it is so important to include these moments. They are life-giving!

Mary’s song of praise is eloquent, poetic and praise-filled. She acknowledges what God has done. 

Some key words:

Soul

Spirit

Humble

Mercy

Servant

Mighty

Blessed

Holy

Strength

Remembrance

 

Mary takes time to praise the Lord.

 

Do I take time to praise the Lord with a song of praise in my heart?

 

Her example is worthy of our attention for sure. But the most important part of her prayer is this: 

 

God is mighty

God has done great things

He is Holy

He is merciful and this mercy goes from

Generation to generation for those who fear him!

 

[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.

 

Mary fears the Lord

She points to his greatness

His holiness

His mercy

Not hers.

 

She knows she has been chosen as a servant of the Lord and that her status has not changed. She humbly accepted her new role and yes she has been blessed and many generations have called her blessed, yet not more than the baby she carried.

 

Jesus is the saviour of the world, and Mary has been chosen to carry the King.

She unfolded her heart through praise for us all to see, and so we can always remember what God has done through her!

Whatever God calls us to do, may we take a posture of humble servant in 2024!

 

This old hymn is perfect to reflect on the gift of Jesus today, tomorrow and always!

 

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Lyrics by E.S. Elliot, 1864

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.