December 13th

December 13: Luke 1:46-56

Luke 1:46-56  (NIV)

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.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Reflection

This is one of a couple of carols found in the Christmas story. Mary’s song, if you really dig into the lyrics, is best summarized by this simple line: “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” In a time when rulers could force you to travel across country for a census, this humble little girl from a no-name town would give birth to a King! God was entering the world through the lives of the poor and forgotten. The powerful would be brought down and the humble lifted. This is only possible through God, for in every other area of life, the opposite happens. This means that without God’s intervention, the powerful will gain more power and the need for humility will be forgotten.

What areas of your life need to be “brought down?” What areas in your life need to be “lifted up?”

Prayer

God, the One who lifts up the humble, lower us, so we might be lifted up by you.