Thursday, December 23

Isaiah 29:13-24

Psalms 80, 146, and 147

Revelation 21:22-22:5

Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1: 39-56

The Song of Mary

“...the child leaped in her womb… .” How hard it is for a mere male to imagine the feeling expressed by Elizabeth and how much more glorious it must have been for Mary to know she was carrying the Son of God who was about to come to earth. Here was Mary, a young, unmarried Jewish girl preparing to give birth to the Savior of the world and only her incredible faith made it possible for her to celebrate this moment with Elizabeth, in the unforgettable words of the Song of Mary, what many of us now call “The Magnificat.”

When I was a young boy I sang this every Sunday evening in our church choir at Evensong, and for me this was always an amazing song of beauty, praise and thanks. Nowadays we do not sing it so often but it has not lost its wonder among the traditional music and poetry of the Christian church.

Over the centuries Mary has sometime been a controversial figure, at times being venerated as the first of all the Saints, and at times being virtually ignored as the subject of idolatry. Even today her position as a leading Christian figure is subject to widely differing interpretations. She is not prominent in Scripture, mostly appearing at around the time of the birth and death of our Lord, but is still considered by many as the leading intercessor for us before the Lord. There are many beliefs around her person which are still subject to dispute and discussion among Christians, such as the Annunciation of our Lady (Lady Day), her Purification (Candlemas), the virgin birth (Immaculate Conception), her bodily Assumption into heaven, as well as the Visitation and the Nativity. But whatever beliefs are dear to you and whatever part of the Christian world is your home, there can be no doubt that the Song of Mary is one of the most beautiful and compelling parts of our Christian literature and holds a unique place in our heritage.

Almighty God

who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:

grant that we who are redeemed by his blood

may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord

who is alive and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit

one God, now and for ever.

AMEN

Ron Merrett