Luke 1:46b-55 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:46b-55 on biblegateway.com
Verse 46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, Verse 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Verse 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Verse 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Verse 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Verse 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. Verse 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; Verse 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Verse 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, Verse 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Devotion
Perhaps Mary saw the cross coming. Her song, the Magnificat, is full of foreshadowing as she praises God for bringing down the mighty, lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry, sending the rich away empty. When our children were small, we had a shoebox-sized “manger full of love” for them to fill with straw during Advent, one piece of straw for each act of love they did. On Christmas, they placed a baby Jesus doll on the bed their love prepared. Amid the frenzied consumerism of pre-Christmas, Advent bears Magnificat grace to the homeless, cold, hungry, despised and rejected. The justice of God’s Emmanuel is God with us, but not only us. It is a light meant to shine among those who are isolated in powerless darkness.
Prayer
When we cry for mercy and justice—for ourselves and for others—Christ, be our light. Amen.