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Mary’s Song


The fancy name for Mary's song is the Magnificat. Why? Because that's the first word in the Latin translation. When Martin Luther translated the Bible from Latin to German, he left the Magnificat in Latin because the German princes didn't care for this image of the mighty being brought low. Historically, the Church has been uncomfortable with this song. We typically think of Mary as sweet and kind, meek and mild. But this is so much more than a simple song of praise. Stanley Jones says, "the Magnificat is the most revolutionary document in the world."

Luke 1:46-48, 52: 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. . . . He has brought the powerful down from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly."

If you're well-versed in the Bible, you know Mary's song reflects Hannah song in the Old Testament. This is more than a cover song. It's a remix. And it's strange. It's strange that a virgin sings Hannah's song. Fred Craddock writes, "tradition is interrupted, the old is new, and the familiar is strange. God is doing a new thing."

Or maybe we should say--God has done a new thing.

When one of my friends told me to pay attention to the verbs in this song, I was intrigued. . The verbs are in past tense. She is singing about what God has done. She is singing praise because God has taken the initiative.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that, like Mary, you'll be filled with holy wonder and you'll sing praises to God--a new song that echoes the past. Will you sing your song? Can the world hear you singing?



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