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, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1.46-55
Mary sees clearly the most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history. The most important three decades in all of time are about to begin.
And where is God at this crucial moment? Surprisingly, he is occupying himself with two obscure, humble women--one old and barren (Elizabeth), one young and a virgin (Mary). When the angel appears, Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in a song--a song that has come to be known as "the Magnificat."
Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke's account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impressed him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary.
Elizabeth says, "Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1.43). And Mary says, "He has looked on the humble estate of his servant" (Luke 1.48).
The only people whose souls can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary--people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the magnificent God.
This is a excerpt from 'Joy to the World-Daily Readings for Advent' by John Piper.
ความคิดเห็น