The Magnificat

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

– Luke 1:46-55 (ESV)

This passage was the text of the sermon today in church. I have long loved the Magnificat, and have always been intrigued by Mary, this young woman upon whom fell both the highest honor and blessing of God and also a crushing sorrow that would pierce her heart.

Who was this woman? She was not one of high stature in her society. She would never live in a palace or, in her lifetime, be famous. And yet

[H]e has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate

Mary understood God’s loving mercy, the strength of his arm, and the absolute certainty of his promises. She understood this as someone whom the outside world would consider a nobody. Yet she carried within her body the Gift that would change the world forever.

As I pondered this passage tonight I realized that Mary’s words are also my words.

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

It is no stretch to share the singing of this song of praise with Mary. I believe through the uncounted eons of eternity every child of God will surely be able to say “from now on all generations will call me blessed”. We will marvel, in ways we can’t even imagine now, at the grace and blessing that our Father has showered on each one of us. We will know, intimately, all the millions in the family of God from all races, cultures, and times, and we will indeed call each other blessed, forever. Because he who is mighty has done great things for us!