Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:46-55 on biblegateway.com
Verse 46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, Verse 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Verse 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Verse 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Verse 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Verse 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. Verse 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; Verse 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Verse 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, Verse 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Devotion
Mary's song is no gentle lullaby of an expectant mother, but a revolutionary anthem that shouts out for God's reign of justice and mercy. To be sure, the song expresses her joyful response to God's visitation and the mighty promise of what God is doing in and through her. But it is also a song that rejoices in the coming reign of God that will undo business as usual in a world where power, wealth and social status call the shots. With a prophet's boldness, Mary sings this song in an occupied land where daily the marginalized and oppressed struggle to survive.
Her son, Jesus, learned this tenacious lullaby well as he went out from his home to preach the coming reign of God. And now this song has been handed down to us. As we carry this tune into the communities where we live throughout the world, we join our voices with Mary and Jesus in singing our hope for God's reign of justice and mercy.