Devotional 12-12-13

Mary's Song

Luke 1:46b-55

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Reflection

This may well be the most revolutionary song ever written.  It is a song of power from a powerless person. It came from the lips of a girl in a male-dominated world.  It came from the streets of a backwater town.  Her nation was a pebble in the shoe of the

greatest superpower in history.  She did not even have anything to do with the birth of this child! But she knew the tide had turned.  This Messiah was not being sent to the high and mighty but to a peasant child like her.  He came without a man’s permission.  He came without the blessing of Rome.  He came to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.  He came to change everything.  He came to care for those that the world did not recognize.  He came to reach the homeless, the helpless, and the lost.  How did she know all that?  Because he came first of all to her.  If you want to see the power of God in action, do not wait too long in the pews. Do not read too much theology. And above all, do not sit with those who are comfortable.  Go the least and lowest. Tell them Mary sent you.

Prayer:  Lord, I wish I was a brave person, like Mary. She saw your revolutionary hand at work through her, and she still said “yes.” Place me next to the uncomfortable, the afflicted. Send me to the least and the lowest.   Amen.

May this Advent season bless you with the spirit of the living God and remembrance of the reason for the season.

Jim Perry