Magnificat
By Janis Buelow (Christian Growth Associate)
“And Mary said, ‘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.’ And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.” – Luke 1:46-56
In the devotional thought “Mary’s Vision of God’s Desire for Us” from the book Sacred Space: A Little Book of Encouragement, there is a reflection prompt that says, “This glorious prayer, the Magnificat, is charged like dynamite. It points to a society in which nobody wants to have too much while others have too little. The hungry are fed and the lowly are raised up. How do I nurture this world in my own heart? How can I nurture it in my daily life? How do I say “Yes” to God’s desire for me as Mary did?”
The Magnificat is a significant passage in Scripture, particularly to us women. It demonstrates praise to the Lord so great that it defines how His miraculous power and glory conquers all – including that of worldly issues. As a woman, we are told at times to be in the “man’s” shadow, but Mary’s praise shows how much our voices matter and how much God loves to hear the praises from all people. When we identify God’s desires, we can easily tie ourselves as the reflection prompts us to think about by looking at the generosity of Mary’s spirit and her confidence. As we continue to grow as women at the Well, let us remember that God is constantly equipping us to send us out to make disciples who share Christ’s story with love.
Dear God, please help me to gain Mary’s confidence and generosity. Help me do your will with joy. Amen.