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25. Mary’s Song


Luke 1:46-55
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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