Key verse: “He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to
be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He said to our
fathers.”
Luke 1:54
What an interesting song this is. If it had been me, I might have been tempted
to brag about the fact that I was the Lord’s chosen. I would have been tempted to become proud. “My son is going to be Messiah! The angel said himself that I am highly
favored! Well, I guess that this will
show them! God chose me over everybody
else! Aren’t I fortunate!”
This, however, is not Mary’s response. Maybe her response demonstrates why she was
chosen and I was not. She immediately
rejoiced for her people. At long last,
the promise that had been made to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, Judah and David
will be fulfilled. The waiting is over. Our messiah will finally be here with us.
Mary does not burst into song immediately after the angel
leaves her. Instead, she gives this
response after seeing for herself that other things that the angel had told her
were true as well. Mary’s cousin was
indeed pregnant and Elizabeth was another one of those amazing women who had
been barren throughout her fertile years. Then, Elizabeth herself assures Mary,
as only a motherly woman could do. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?…Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her
will be accomplished.” (Luke 1:42-43-&-45) No Mary, you’re not imagining things! What’s
happening to you, for us, is real! You
may rejoice in it!
Mary is another stone in the foundation that God is laying
for the redemption of the world. She is
another sign, for us, along the way. She
understands this. Instead of bragging
about being chosen, she rejoices in the goodness of God. He is merciful. He does remember the poor. He lifts up the lowly and sends the proud away
empty. He is great! He is wonderful! He can be trusted!
Mary’s response begs the question, how do we receive our
blessings? Do we believe that we deserve
them? Are we poised to run out and
squander what we are given on ourselves? Or, do we see ourselves as blessed for a
purpose, to bless others for the Lord. Is our blessing an opportunity to praise God
and see how we can help others, or is it an opportunity to be greedy and pine
for more?
We will do well for Christ when we can say, as Mary did, “I
am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)
We are blessed to be a blessing.
Hymn: “Magnificat All That I am”
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