The Magnificat

In my last post I wrote about how, when God chooses people to do His work (especially in Scripture) He doesn't choose the powerful or the famous or the rich or those with "good breeding." He chooses the ordinary people because He is more interested in whether or not you're going to be faithful and obedient regardless of what society and culture thinks.

Soon after The Annunciation Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is mentioned by Gabriel as having become pregnant in her old age. Elizabeth's child is to be John the Baptist, who ushers in Jesus Christ through his preaching. When Mary arrives at Elizabeth's home, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaims: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" She goes on to continue to bless Mary in her little speech and, in response, Mary bursts out into a song of praise that we Christians know as The Magnificat which is Latin for "praise" because it's the first word in the first sentence of the song in Latin.

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And 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 mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

The Magnificat is all about God choosing the humble, the poor, the lowly, to do His work. God turns the world upside down by having the Messiah be born to a poor, lowly girl; He turns the world upside down by having the Messiah, Jesus Christ, come first to save the world spiritually and in Jesus' Second Advent, physically. For centuries the people of God thought the Messiah would come with trumpets blaring and with an army and rescue them from their oppressors (and He will in the last days), but the people of God could not comprehend that perhaps they would first be rescued from spiritual bondage and oppression.

The Magnificat also calls us to reevaluate our own lives. It calls us to be like Mary, to recognize that at times we are proud and rich because we either are rich or through "holier than thou" mentalities have fallen into the trap of the proud. It calls us to remember that God prefers the humble and the lowly. Not to mean that we necessarily have to give up our wealth, but if God calls us to "sell all we have and give the money to the poor" that we do so because we are faithful and obedient and trusting that the Lord will care for us.

The Magnificat calls us to be devoted servants of God, much like Mary. Much like Elizabeth. Much like the many on whom's shoulders we modern Christians stand on. So let us praise the Lord this Advent season. Praise His Holy Name for He has sent His Son Jesus Christ as a baby into the world to rescue us.

Come Lord Jesus, Come!