Advent 4: The Magnificat

Have you ever had to keep a secret? A really BIG secret? A secret so big you felt as though keeping it might make you burst?

Probably. We’ve all been there – there’s something that is big, growing inside of us the more we think about it. And we know that we can’t tell ANYONE. Sure, they’ll all find out eventually, but for now – NO ONE can know.

That’s how Mary was feeling in today’s gospel. She’s been visited by the angel Gabriel, who has told her that her barren cousin Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant. And that she will carry the Son of God, though she is a virgin. “For nothing is impossible with God.” 

So, Mary recognises what is happening, and agrees to this ministry that God has called her to – ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
It’s beautiful. It’s heartwarming. But it’s also scary…

Mary, the virgin, is pregnant. PREGNANT. This is not something a young girl can cover up, at least not for long! She’s young, she’s unmarried (which means she is never with any male without a chaperone), she’s betrothed to Joseph (which means that there’s a legal contract between Joseph and Mary’s dad, and her virginity is a part of that contract). And really – all you parents – had your daughter came to you with “an angel of the Lord came and told me I would carry God’s son!” would you have responded with “Oh. Okay!” like our play last week?

So she heads out to see her cousin for some comfort. She heads out. Alone. From Galilee to a Judean hill town. That’s some 65 miles she’s journeying without a chaperone, without protection, without permission. It’s no wonder she’s going ‘with haste.’ It’s no wonder she’s delighted to greet Elizabeth when she does finally arrive, likely exhausted and relieved. It’s no wonder that John the Baptist-baby-bump leaps with joy upon hearing the voice of his Saviour’s mother. It’s no wonder that Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith.

And then Mary responds with a song of such relief and joy and faith that her secret does burst out of her. She reveals all to her cousin, knowing that this is a safe place for her to declare her faith, her allegiance, her actions, her decision. All those things she’s been thinking about for days and weeks, and especially on her long journey. She’s not blurting out her secrets with the intention that they be remembered and repeated for thousands of years, but because it is what is happening in her heart.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
Mary is celebrating the role of God in her life – she’s putting God above all others; higher than the Romans, higher than Caeser.

For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Mary acknowledges with humility that she is being called to a specific ministry, and that this ministry will NOT be an easy one – but that it is hers to undertake. And she knows that she will succeed because this is God’s will.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Mary knows her history, she has learned from her ancestors, she believes the truth of God’s assistance for the faithful and for those in need, and his judgment for the haughty and naughty. 

Mary is making a statement of faith – a confession – a creed. She’s declaring to her cousin “this is it: it’s all about God. And whatever happens to me doesn’t matter, because I’m going to follow God.”

This is what we celebrate this week. Mary’s courage, her willingness to listen to God and obey, her sheer joy in that action. We celebrate that she has decided to answer God’s call for her, despite the challenges that caused.  We acknowledge Mary’s strength of carrying the burden of being the Theotokos – the God-bearer in a world that refused to understand. We acknowledge her confusion – her entire life plan has been changed irrevocably in one night. We acknowledge her fear – if she was afraid when she LEFT Galilee, imagine how she was feeling when she headed back home! We acknowledge her humility in knowing her role and her wisdom in answering God’s call, regardless of what her friends and family would say and do.

And today, as we celebrate and acknowledge Mary, we recognise that we too are invited to examine ourselves in the light of her song. Who do we magnify, who do we recognise as our Saviour? To whom do we strive to dedicate our lives and work? How well do we know and learn from our history?

Today as we are SO close to Christmas, it is easy to be distracted from our true calling and ministry. It is easy to be caught up in the packages and last-minute shopping lists and menus and such. No matter how hard we try, we can be distracted from what really matters at Christmas by the shiny lights and glistening trees that are in front of us. But I believe that deep down, each and every one of us knows why we are here, why we are celebrating, who we are waiting for.

And so I invite us to take a moment today, tomorrow, to think about Mary. To block out the distractions of the world and focus on our calling as God’s children. I invite us to spend a moment and seek out the presence of the Christ-child in our lives, and consider how we too might carry that joy throughout the days ahead. I invite us to be our own God-bearers, our own Marys, ready to declare to the busy and critical world that our souls magnify the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. And to realise that we would declare this to the world, that it is not a secret for us – but a celebration of the God-given joy that we carry in our hearts.