Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s exultation in God in this wonderful poem is both passionate and insightful. And we have the same God. Even though for her to bear the Messiah is a unique event, it is possible for us to know the same awe and joy that she experienced. For us to feel what Mary felt we must see, with the eyes of our soul, what she saw and we must deeply know the God that she knew.
It is significant that Mary’s song does not focus on herself. The center of these statements is the person of God, namely what He is like and what He has done. In the birth of Christ Mary sees God’s power (Lk 1:49), holiness (Lk 1:49), mercy (Lk 1:50), and faithfulness (Lk 1:54,55). These are some of God’s perfections.
But Mary also revels in God’s actions. In her being chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, she sees an illustration of God exalting Himself by confounding the wisdom and pride of men. To lift Himself up as supreme above the folly of human hearts, God often does things in such a way as to make it unmistakable that it is His hand.
"He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones . . . and the rich he has sent away empty" (Lk 1:51,52,53). By sending His Son to be born as a baby … to a poor, unknown woman … in a small, obscure village … in a manger … God exalts Himself and shatters human pride. The gospel is seen here in summary form. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Jam 4:6). "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3). Only the broken receive Christ and live … the rest are scattered and brought down.
