The Magnificat

Own photo of mosaic in Hagia Sophia

Rev. Molly F. James, PhD

Christ Church Cathedral

Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55

Advent 4, December 23, 2018

May God’s Word be spoken. May God’s Word be heard. May that point us to the living Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

There is an interesting thing about today’s lectionary. It is the Magnificat. The Magnificat is the song that Mary sings when she meets up with Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells her that she is blessed among women, and Mary responds with a song about what God has done and will do. The interesting thing is what an important place this song has in our tradition. So important that there are two ways we can include it in our liturgy today. It can be read in the Gospel reading or it can be done as the response to the first reading, in place of the psalm. This pretty much means that we cannot get through today without hearing the Magnificat or saying it together. The Magnificat matters. Actually for us as Anglicans, it is basically always a good idea to say the Magnificat. If you pray Evening Prayer or attend Evensong on a regular basis, you will notice that the Magnificat is always said or sung. While it is important to this day, this fourth Sunday of Advent - clearly since the lectionary committee went out of its way to be sure we say it, italso has meaning for us in the midst of daily life.

Why? What is it about the Magnificat that is so important, so meaningingful for us as followers of Jesus?

I think it tells us three important things about God and about ourselves. It tells us about MERCY, CHANGE, and PROMISE.

First, we reminded that God is merciful. That God loves us. That God cares for us. And it is very much worth remembering that this reminder comes from the mouth of Mary. A young woman who is about to have a baby. A woman who has been ostracized and possibly even shamed by her community. She is a woman on the margins. She is a woman after all. A woman at a time when women were regarded as property. She had no rights, no power, no authority. And yet here she is, doing what men do, what prophets do. She is speaking truths about God with authority and conviction. Such important truths that they are written down and preserved for generations to come.  

The fact that Mary is the one speaking of God’s favor, God’s love, and God’s mercy reminds us that our God is not just the God of the powerful. God’s mercy, God’s love are for all people, everywhere. Especially for those on the margins. Especially for those who feel unworthy of God’s love. And that my friends is an important reminder for each of us. In those moments when we feel unworthy, when we feel far more aware of our own shortcomings than our successes, it is in those moments that we must remember that we too are beloved of God. Our God is a God of compassion and mercy. May that inspire us to be generous with ourselves and with all those around us. May we be agents of mercy wherever we go.

Second, Mary talks about change. God is scattering the proud, bringing down the powerful and filling the hungry. Sounds like the undoing of the status quo. Sounds like bringing about change. This is not surprising for those of us who know the rest of the story. Those of us who know the life story of that baby in her womb. Those of us who know the powerful change that Jesus brought to the world in which he lived, and the transformative impact that his life, death, and resurrection have had on our own faith journeys. But it is worth remembering what a big deal it is that Mary knows all of this even before Jesus is born. She knows who he is and what is coming. What an act of faith for her to say all these things and then to live into the path that has been set before her. Can you imagine it? Imagine knowing that your child would have an amazing impact on the world, would change the course of history and bring hope and salvation. Imagine knowing that before you have even held the child. And imagine knowing that would also it come with enormous cost. A cost she was already beginning to experience in her own marginalization. Imagine knowing all that and still saying yes? Mary had deep faith and profound courage. I think it is important to note here that my favorite definition of courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. I don’t doubt Mary was afraid. How could she not be? And yet she says yes to God. Yes to being Jesus’ mother, even though the road would be so very rough.

And this brings us to the third element of the Magnificat and why it matters for us. It matters because the Magnificat is about promises. It is about God’s promises and our promises. Mary reminds us that God keeps promises. God does not forget them. God is faithful, and we are called to be faithful as well. This does not mean that God’s promises will always be fulfilled in the time or manner in which WE would like. It is important to note that God does not promise us an easy road. God certainly did not promise Mary an easy road. What God does promise is to be faithful. God promises to be faithful to who we know God to be. God promises to be Emmanuel, God with us. And God invites us to be faithful to our promises, to be faithful followers of Jesus. We are called to be faithful and courageous like Mary. We are called to trust in God’s abiding presence, even when we feel afraid. This means stepping out and stepping up to do the right thing, even when we are not sure how it is all going to turn out.

So, as this season of Advent draws to a close, I invite you to carry the Magnificat with you into the Christmas season, into Epiphany and beyond. Carry its truth. Carry its hope. Carry its conviction. Carry the bold and comforting knowledge that God is merciful, that God is bringing about change in the world, and that God is faithful. May those gifts and truths in turn inspire us to be merciful, to join with God in changing the world, and to have the courage to keep our promises, even when we feel afraid.

AMEN.