An open-air service, scriptures cited include Isa 12.2-6; Ps 150; Eph 1.7-14; Luke 1.46-55
Praise!
Our theme this morning is one of praise. We have responded to God’s invitation to come together, and praise!
Now, the word ‘praise’ can have different understandings, different connotations… to some, it’s a style of music. To others, it can be a statement of admiration or approval. Some people praise in dance; To some, it’s an expression of gratitude as an act of worship. For others still, praise is a form of prayer.
Here’s the truth: they are all correct.
For praise is not something we can create or force; praise simply exudes from us. It is based in the core of our being – where it has always been and always will be!
When we praise God, we are not doing these things to obtain or acquire anything, but because God’s Being draws praise from us.
Yes: the very presence of God – who we acknowledge to be in all times and all spaces – God’s presence brings the praise out of us.
When the world is going our way: we praise.
When circumstances are not-so-great: we praise.
In happy times: we praise.
In sad times: we praise.
In exciting places: we praise.
In boring places: we praise.
In lonely times: we praise.
In joyous gatherings: like today! - we praise.
Because God IS with us. God is always with us, and God will always bring out the praise from within us.
It’s part of our relationship with God, and with each other.
And praise – there’s no singular way to do it – but praise is not meant to be limited.
The scope of praise is beyond our imagination, the potential of praise is bigger than we could ask.
We praise – how God is inviting us to praise, because God is with us.
Our readings today highlight this for us.
Isaiah proclaims our salvation from God Almighty: the narrative that is foundational to our faith. We are saved by the grace of God.
The epistle continues this assurance of salvation and of the power that comes to us through these eternal promises. Salvation has been given to us: gifted to us! We are redeemed, restored, reconciled – we are living in the eternal hope and glory of our Lord.
Praise God, indeed.
Our psalmist – obviously a musician – erupts within the community with demonstrated actions of praise. And – the people may or may not have considered themselves to be musical – but delighted in acts of musical praise all the same. Praise isn’t a concert – it’s praise. So if some of you today have been reserved with your voices and instruments – no need to hold back here; God loves hearing our joyful noises.
And of course: the Magnificat – this beautiful account of the Mother of our Messiah learning that she will bear the Christ into the world. We have heard the words; we have sung the words. We have praised with the benefit of these words.
And the praise is deep and profound – it is rich and all-encompassing.
My soul Magnifies the Lord: magnifies! It’s a signal boost – a viral trend. When Mary starts this phenomenal ministry, she is really making sure people know who she is, and whose she is.
For she praises the Lords: in words, in song, in action.
She is letting the world know that she is faithful to God, and God alone – not to the powers and principalities, not to the fickle trends of culture or the who’s-who of society.
My soul magnifies the Lord, she says. No one else.
In doing so, Mary details how she is coming from humble beginnings, and knows that she is putting herself at risk. But she journeys with faith to the opportunity that God has put before her: changing her mind and plans to be open to the movement of the Spirit.
She is blessed: not in the ‘favour and fortune’ kind of casual expression or hashtag that we see today. Blessed - for Mary recognises the blessing to all of humanity.
She herself will suffer, we hear time and again; yet the world will receive the Christ.
God has honoured her with this privilege to be part of the broader blessing, and she accepts and embraces it.
Praise God.
Mary sings of the way that God has always accompanied the people of faith – from the historical Abraham to her present day; and today we continue that praise, as we too believe and proclaim that we believe in 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 with her cousin Elizabeth – she’s not just singing alone – and she is declaring “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 decision, and her commitment shown out in her actions. We celebrate that she has decided to answer God’s call for her, despite the challenges that caused.
We know it wasn’t easy for Mary – this life-changing moment that changed life for Mary and the whole world – and we honour her humility in knowing her role and her wisdom in answering God’s call, regardless of what her family and society may do.
For she praised: her soul magnified God. And God alone.
And from this magnification, she praised – in song. Mary’s Song, the Magnificat, gives us holy words and holy practice, a stunning example of what is possible when we praise.
She was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t help but sing: and sing she did.
So imagine what *we* could do, if we opened ourselves up to God the way our scripture writers have today?
If we continued to share the narrative of the salvation of Jesus the Christ – not only on Sundays, but everyday – in honest actions, kind encounters, in respectful dealings – like what Isaiah and Paul speak of.
Or like the psalmist, who invites us to be keen in praise, without concern of tune or rhythm or any other skill – for praise is not a performance, but a celebration of the soul.
Or in Mary, who epitomises vulnerability: sharing of herself in profound life-changing ways, for the sake of others; putting aside her preferences and comfort in order to do what was right by everyone.
And: in all these cases – praising. With song, with words, with action.
Praising: with love.
Praising the God who loves us as we are, and who pulls us into who we CAN be.
Praising the God who loves our community – and every community – for communities make the creation whole.
Praising the God who welcomes ALL at all times, no matter how many times we turn away.
Praising the God of yesterday, and of today, and of tomorrow:
Let’s rejoice in our Lord…. Let’s delight in the assurances of our Saviour.
Let’s feel the love that God has for us…. Let’s let our souls magnify the Lord:
And our hearts respond with praise. Amen!!
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