This week, as we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent, many Christian congregations across the world will hear and perhaps sing a version of Mary’s great song, known as the Magnificat. You will find it in the Gospel of Luke chapter one, verses 46-55. It is a remarkable Bible text.
Mary breaks into this song at the very beginning of her pregnancy just after she has been blessed by her elder relative Elizabeth. Mary, carrying the child who would be renowned as the Son of the Most High, and being fully aware of her own humble origins, sings this bold song which testifies to God’s concern for the poor and the vulnerable. It is not exactly the kind of lyric we might have expected from one who is expecting.
That Mary is surprised by a holy Annunciation, and then received a marvelous blessing in this Visitation with her equally surprised and pregnant elder relative, one might anticipate a song that would eloquently describe joyous excitement of parenthood. Perhaps a song about the mixture of hope and worry about becoming a mother. But Mary’s song does not fit that mold.
Mary does not sing of the day when she will cradle a son in her arms, her song is not about her hope for the day when she will tuck her little boy in at night and sing him a lullaby, or kiss his hurts and worries away. Her song just isn’t sentimental at all. Her song is a prophetic call for the standards of the world to change and come into harmony with the heart of God. Her song challenges any self-centered attitude that neglects the real needs of community.
As we meditate on her song, the unmistakable themes of God’s concern for the meek and lowly stands out in stark contrast to the competitive way the societies of the world commonly operate. One of our contemporary worship songs from the 1980s, Canticle of the Turning, by Rory Cooney, which is based on the Magnificat, is a rather passionate expression of hope for the day when God’s justice will provide peace for all and sustenance for each.
Mary’s song is a preamble of sorts and a foretelling of the message of the Christian witness that has inspired people to reach out with kindness, and mercy with a special focus on those in need. And I believe her song is resonating right now in Cook County and indeed across the nation and globe in all the acts of generosity, goodness and justice that people of faith are performing in greater measure this Advent/Christmas season.
I found it interesting to learn that Martin Luther’s interpretation of the “Magnificat” inspired him to write to “His Serene Highness, Prince John Frederick” one of the German rulers who protected him in the 1520s, and say, “In all of scripture I do not know anything that serves such a purpose so well as this sacred hymn of the most blessed Mother of God, which ought indeed to be learned and kept in mind by all who would rule well and be helpful lords.”
Luther interpreted this song to be a model of just leadership under God’s rule of grace. Perhaps we could send this song as a statement of political guidance to our leaders in Washington, D.C., and St. Paul and to all who would wish to run and be helpful leaders. I don’t know how Prince John Frederick reacted to this suggestion. Maybe his ruling style was influenced, and perhaps his conduct was more compassionate and generous. We know that is what we admire most in our country’s leaders, and it is how we want our nation as a whole to be renowned in the world. In our congregations I know we listen to this message in Mary’s Magnificat and in humble measure we strive to abide by the compassionate, generous gracious will of God.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Reverend Mark Ditmanson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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