Magnificat, also called the canticle of Mary, is found in Luke 1:46–55. In Scripture, the hymn is found after the jubilant meeting of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and her relative Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist. It is named after the first word of its first line in Latin (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul magnifies the Lord”). Elaborate musical settings have been created for the Magnificat and it is traditionally sung each day at evening prayer, or vespers.
Several years ago, as I was going through a particularly dark time of grief, I was in the habit of trail running at a nearby nature preserve. During that season, I felt like every run was a series of metaphors that God used to speak to me. The sharp bend in the trail told me about how life takes unexpected turns, the hills and the valleys brought to mind all the scriptures that talk about God’s presence in our joys and sorrows, and even the unexpected butterfly flitting along as I ran was a pop of joy from God, reminding me of His lightness and hope.
In times of crisis, our spiritual sensitivity often peaks. Mary was not in a dark season of grief, but she was experiencing an enormous life change—one that few would understand, except maybe Elizabeth. Elizabeth was old, but she was pregnant. Mary was an unknown, small-town girl, but she was being elevated to the high calling of being Jesus’ mother. And she knew, God wouldn’t stop there:
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:52-53)
Mary was beginning to see that what God was doing within her, is what He planned for the entire world—lifting up the lowly, bringing down the proud, filling what is lacking, doing away with excess. Mary’s life was a metaphor for the new kingdom.
And why was God turning all the tables, and creating this upside-down kingdom? It’s what He does. It is His nature. He is holy, and righteous, and He remembers His promises: “for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name . . .He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors” (vv. 49, 53-54).
God loves us as we are, but He is not content to leave us there. He is always transforming, always turning the tables and re-creating. This Advent, let’s look for the ways He is doing this in our own lives, and in the world around us.
For Reflection:
- What are some other Scriptures that make you think of God’s “upside-down” kingdom?
- Why is it significant that God remembers His promises and sees the struggles of His people?
Nativity Building Activity: Place a donkey near Mary. She may have ridden a donkey to Bethlehem, because she was so close to having a baby. Years later, Jesus Himself would ride a donkey into Jerusalem.
by Laure Herlinger
Week 2 Family Talk
My family lived on a small farm in the 1970’s loaded with animals, machinery, gardens, and green tree-filled pastures. My older sisters had ponies and horses and participated in the 4-H club. I followed their example but found that riding a horse was not as exciting for me as it was for them! My dad suggested showing cattle instead and taking a steer to the county fair. I did; fourteen-year-old me with a 1250-pound Hereford steer! I showed my steer in a class of my peers and their purebred, fancy animals, and received a pink ribbon. The pink ribbon is much lower than blue ribbon, and since every 4-H participant received a ribbon, my pink ribbon was very, very, very far below the blue ribbons! However, we all were allowed to auction off our steers at the end hoping to receive the highest price per pound for our award-winning livestock.
Much to my surprise, my pink ribbon steer entered the auction pen and bidders started their offers at $1.00 per pound. That’s high! How could this be? My steer was not a purebred; it didn’t have a pedigree of any sort. Why was my steer worth as much as the blue-ribbon ones? Well, my father had prepared the way by inviting business owners from our town to the auction. These businesses wanted to support our family so they bid high! What a blessing! One of my steers paid for two years of college back then.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was surprised, too, when she learned of God’s plan for her (Luke 1:38). Mary was not from a noble family; she did not have wealth. She was humble and willing to accept God’s plan and she praised God for this (Luke 1:48-49). God’s plan for Mary was His plan for us as well—the sending of His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins.
Reflection Questions:
- Read or listen to the words of Mary’s Magnificat again. What did Mary recognize that God had done for Israel that could be given a ‘blue-ribbon’? (Hint: the start of each verse)
- Take time together to offer praise to the Lord for all that He is and has done in the life of your family. Extra credit: create a ‘blue-ribbon’ out of paper and write out your praises!
by Dawn Schuessler
Recommended Posts
Reflect & Respond: Week 6
January 7, 2023
What Truly Matters
January 6, 2023
True Wisdom
January 5, 2023