Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

Dear God, it’s been almost ten years that I have been hanging out and worshipping with Catholics. While I’m not Catholic, my wife started visiting a Catholic church in 2010 and was confirmed Easter 2012. For my part, I went the the Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA) with her, but decided there was enough different about my personal theology that I shouldn’t be confirmed. I even did a series of posts called “Supporting My Wife Going Catholic” that corresponded with a series she did on her blog about “Going Catholic.”

All of that said, I’ve learned that the Magnificat (as this is called in Catholic Circles–I’ve always seen it referred to as “Mary’s Song”) is an important piece of the New Testament to Catholics. We are in a couples group with the church that meets once a month called TOOL (Teams Of Our Lady). I’m the only non-Catholic in the group, but they are gracious and have shown no problems accepting me as part of their family. Anyway, as part of the meetings, we close each one with a recitation of the Magnificat. I had never thought of this piece as being so important. Growing up Baptist, we just aren’t as in to some of the Advent things, and we certainly aren’t as focused on Mary, but I’ve found some real appreciation for the perspective of appreciating Mary and seeing the world through her lens (I have to add that I also have just as much appreciation for Joseph and who he was as a man).

So for this “song,” I think you first have to start with the singer. A poor girl who met an angel one day. The angel tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is going through a miraculous pregnancy of her own so I assume Mary figures Elizabeth just might believe her tale of a virgin conception. So she heads to Elizabeth’s and as soon as she enters the room she is affirmed. Any fear she had on her journey is washed away as soon she greeted Elizabeth. She didn’t even have to say, “I have something to tell you.” She just greeted Elizabeth and Elizabeth felt her baby leap and “was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” k

So that’s the stage for Mary’s response. She praised you, acknowledging her joy, love, and probably relief. Then she says everything she believes about you. You are loving. You are just. You are holy. You are mighty. You will love the Israelites and provide for them. Her knowledge is imperfect. She would never imagine what your real plan was. But that’s okay. She didn’t have to. She just knew that you were moving and she was a part of it.

Father, I don’t pretend to play 1% the kind of role in your plan that Mary and Joseph played, but I know you’ve given me a life to live. I don’t know where it is going or how it all works out. I don’t know what tragedies might be awaiting me or those I love, but I believe that nothing happens outside of your view. So help me to do my part. I acknowledge that you are loving, just, holy, and might. You love me, even as a Gentile. You provide for me–if not in this life, in the one to come. Use me in whatever way accomplishes your goals and plans for the world.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen