Singing Songs of Justice with Mary


46 And Mary[a] said,

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

I am preaching from the 89th Psalm on this the Fourth Sunday of Advent. I have already shared my thoughts concerning the story of the annunciation to Mary.  The alternative to Psalm 89 in the lectionary is the Magnificat -- Mary's song of divine triumph over the powers of this world.  

As we near the Christmas observance, it is good to hear this message of divine justice.  As an avid watcher of the various versions of Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol, I am quite aware of the message of that story -- that God will bring down the high and mighty and lift up the lowly.  Such is the focus of Mary's song.  So, may we go forward on the journey toward Christmas, with the message of of Mary's song on our hearts.  

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