Skip to main content

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?



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Grand Tour: Repentance, Justification, and Sanctification

Eventually, in life, we will all wonder if there is more to life than what we do, what we see, and what we feel. Even after we accept Jesus into our heart, we will still feel a longing. We don't believe that accepting Jesus is the final step. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is only the beginning of our faith. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives. John Wesley used the illustration of a house to describe this work. When you're beginning to feel that there has to be more to life than this, you take a look at the house. Then, you’re moved to take a risk and step up on the porch of repentance. There you find new life. After that, you walk into the living room through the front door of justification. Justification is when God makes right what we never can; God, through Christ, makes things right. Wesley ended by saying that sanctification is the exploration of the rest of the house. How sad would it be to live your entire life in the living room? That would b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ash Wednesday 2019

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive (Joel 2:12-13 CEB) Today is a new beginning. A new season. And anytime we step into something new, we can feel vulnerable. We know our own brokenness. This is a season where we journey through the wilderness of our hearts and souls to the heart of God. This is a time that calls for us to walk carefully and to think deeply. And if we are to make progress on our pilgrim's path, then we must be willing to lay bare all that is hidden, buried, or repressed inside of ourselves. This path is uncomfortable. But if we want to move closer to God, then it is a path we must take. Lent doesn't make sense. It's counter-intuitive. We begin with death and move towards life. Today, many Christians will go to chu...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Anxiety to Hope

In the early winter of AD 28, an extraordinary rumor spread across the shores of Galilee. A new prophet is on the scene. God had been silent for so long. Believers had longed for a new word from God. The last prophet to speak about the Messiah lived nearly 400 years ago. Some thought prophecy was dead. Others hoped it would be revived. Many longed for a movement which would bring them a new kind of freedom. Then John appears. Crowds come to hear this voice in the wilderness. It may helpful to remember the Exodus story: When Israel left Egypt, they were ed through the Red Sea, through the wilderness of Sinai, and, finally, through the Jordan into the promised land. People were desperate for a new exodus, a new freedom. Then John appears. He tells people to turn their lives around. He calls for people to change their hearts and lives. He's not calling for a one-time event. Instead, this is a radical change of life. John is preparing the road for the Lord to return. He...
Post a Comment
Read more