The Hymn for Evening Prayer, Mary's Song (Luke 1:46-55)
46 And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Devotion
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
The Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise from the Gospel of Luke, is one of the first hymns of the Christian faith. For centuries, it has been sung by Christians throughout the world every day in evening prayer services. No matter what happens in the day, no matter what happens in the world, at the end of each day, in each corner of the world, there are Christians proclaiming an alternate vision of reality. When it seems all we can hear are the sounds of violence, oppression and suffering, we need to stop and listen for the strains of hope and love sung out in defiance of all the world throws at us. When we feel discouraged and defeated, we need to join our voices in song with the church on earth singing in God’s new reign.
Prayer
God of justice and righteousness, when all seems hopeless, help us to hear and join in your song of justice and hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.