Luke’s first chapter packs so much information that it’s hard to comprehend at times. One of the many interesting stories is where Mary, newly pregnant yet unmarried, leaves her home town (and probably the questions on everyone’s minds) and visits her relative Elizabeth–an older woman who also has become miraculously pregnant.
I imagine they knew each other despite the difference in age. They probably had large family gatherings such as one I’m about to endure, er, enjoy, this weekend. So, Mary could find some friendship and understanding with Elizabeth.
Thing is, when Elizabeth sees Mary, she is filled with the Holy Spirit and spontaneously announces, Blessed are you among all women. Mary, probably still coming to grips with what’s happening to her and finding trouble articulating them, responds with a song.
We call the song the Magnificat. It is a revolutionary song. First Mary responds personally to the call of God. Then she describes God’s mighty works of humbling the proud, honoring the poor. Read it–I know that Catholics recite it, but take your time going through this song and meditate on the phrases. What would the world be like if these all came to pass in the world as we know it?
Are you like me in thinking that this is the one time Mary sang this song (just because Luke didn’t give us the melody, doesn’t mean it wasn’t sung)? Why then did someone remember it so well that they could tell Luke about it?
John Ortberg who is senior pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church opened my eyes a little last week when he talked about this song as a sort of lullaby that Mary would sing to Jesus when he was little. Don’t forget, Jesus came into the world human. He was a little baby just like we were. Someone had to train him and bring him up. Jesus often used these themes in his teaching. It makes sense.
So it makes sense that we return to these words on occasion and ponder them–just as Mary pondered the miraculous ways of God.
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