Text: John 3:25-30
Prayer Pointers:
For the joy of God’s exaltation of Mary
For the Spirit to aid us to accept God’s will
For those in turmoil, loss and grief
For our elected leaders
Since yesterday (May 31) was the Day of Pentecost, we did not observe another important day in the Church’s calendar: The Visitation. This day is meant to remember how, after an angel of God told Mary she would bear the Christ, she went to the hill country to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was beyond the years of childbearing, yet, the angel said, she was with child.
The two women greet each other with joy, and in that meeting, Mary sings what is now one of the great treasures of the Church:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!
My spirit rejoices in God, my savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day, all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name!
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
He has scattered the proud in their arrogance.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
The promise he made to our fathers,
To Abraham and his children forever.
Luther, who treasured Mary in his heart to the end of his days, in writing about the Magnificat said:
We poor fools! If we come into a little wealth or might or honor, a bit of knowledge or wisdom, or even if we are made a bit prettier than others, we cannot abide being made equal to any, but we puff up beyond all measure… But Mary’s heart remains the same at all times; she lets God have his will with her and draws from it good comfort, joy and trust in God, rejoicing in the blessings others possess, as well as her own. Yes, she is full of grace.
May your day be grace-filled ~ Pr. Dave Brooks