The Magnificat or the Canticle of Mary
(Luke 1:46-55)
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
Mild, meek, pregnant, servant-of-the-Lord Mary makes a trip to see her pregnant-with-John-the-Baptist cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees Mary and shouts out what is to become the Hail Mary prayer after John the Baptist leaps in her womb at the sound of Mary's voice. Great stuff, sweet stuff, right? Okay. You then expect mild, meek, pregnant, servant-of-the-Lord Mary to continue with this perfect WE/Oxygen/Lifetime channel movie of the week scene, but...
Mary, little Mary, belts out this zinger, the Magnificat! Holy Toledo! What just happened? Well, Mary has been transformed by God when she accepts His will. She has flipped the tassel over to the other side. Graduated from a meek, mild servant of the Lord to the MOTHER OF CHRIST. She speaks with the confidence of the Spirit. She lays down the law. This is what God is, what He did for me and what He wants done.
I can imagine people in close vicinity slowly backing away...
(Luke 1:46-55)
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
Mild, meek, pregnant, servant-of-the-Lord Mary makes a trip to see her pregnant-with-John-the-Baptist cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees Mary and shouts out what is to become the Hail Mary prayer after John the Baptist leaps in her womb at the sound of Mary's voice. Great stuff, sweet stuff, right? Okay. You then expect mild, meek, pregnant, servant-of-the-Lord Mary to continue with this perfect WE/Oxygen/Lifetime channel movie of the week scene, but...
Mary, little Mary, belts out this zinger, the Magnificat! Holy Toledo! What just happened? Well, Mary has been transformed by God when she accepts His will. She has flipped the tassel over to the other side. Graduated from a meek, mild servant of the Lord to the MOTHER OF CHRIST. She speaks with the confidence of the Spirit. She lays down the law. This is what God is, what He did for me and what He wants done.
I can imagine people in close vicinity slowly backing away...
