Magnificat

Luke 1:39-56

I want to try a slightly different way of entering scripture this morning.  In fact, I want to do a little meditation together that will let the scripture enter us….

Let’s start with the women:
Elizabeth has been alone for five months, in seclusion as long as she’s been pregnant.  She’s past menopause and way past expecting a baby.  And who knows what she knows about this baby – the angel who announced it to her husband struck him dumb at the same time, so he hasn’t said a word to her in all these months.

Then Mary comes,

and Elizabeth’s body, the child inside of her,

recognizes something extraordinary.

She exclaims in wonder,

marveling at the presence of God that her body has revealed to her.

And she blesses Mary.

Mary,  who is pregnant long before she was expecting to be,

probably in trouble with her fiancé and his family.

And Elizabeth blesses her:

Blessed is she who believes that God’s promises come true!

There’s blessing all over the place.

Blessing for Elizabeth, rejoicing in the presence of God under her roof.

Blessing for Mary, that her unexpected child brings joy,

and blessing for both of them,

through their trust in God’s promises.

That trust, that blessing, makes Mary sing.  She sings about her blessedness, and about God’s dream for the world, the dream that Mary shares, that Mary gets to help accomplish.

Will you reflect on that song with me,

listening to the scripture, listening to your heart?

First, listen for the blessing.

How have you been blessed by your faith,

blessed by your trust in God?

Listen to the words:

"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."

NRSV

Listen to your heart:
How have you been blessed by your faith, blessed by your trust in God?

*********

When Mary sings about her blessing,

she sings about God’s dream for the world,

a world where the hungry are well fed,

the powerless made strong,

and the powers-that-be turned upside down.

What parts of God’s dream for our world appeal to you most?
Where does God’s dream for a world made new tug at your heart?

Listen to the words:

Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.  His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.  He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.  He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.  The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.  It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

(the Message)

Listen to your heart:

What part of God’s dream for our world appeals to you most?
Where does God’s dream for a world made new tug at your heart?

*********

Mary said yes to God,

probably before she fully understood what having this baby was about,

but that yes made her part of God’s dream,

meant that she helped make God’s promises true.

What is God inviting you to say “yes” to this Christmas, in the coming year?

That yes might sound like saying “no” to other choices,

but listen for how God is inviting you to help God’s promises come true, for you or for the world?

Listen to the scripture:

Mary said,

“ With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.  He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,

remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever. ”

(Common English Version)

Listen to your heart:
Where is God inviting you to say “yes”? 

How is God inviting you to help God’s promises come true,

in your life, or in the world?

*********

Mary and Elizabeth blessed each other,

with their trust in God,

by sharing God’s dream,

by saying yes, and helping to make God’s promises come true.

I hope we can do the same,

this Christmas, and in the coming year,

because what Elizabeth said about Mary is true for us, too, if we take it to heart:
Blessed are you who believe that God’s promises to you come true.

Amen.