The announcement of the coming of Jesus is brought to a fearful young girl. She is told by the angel Gabriel to not be afraid, that God was with her, that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1). In Mary's humble song we see a glimpse of a merciful God who would be revealed more fully in the coming of the Christ child:
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.(Luke 1:46-53)
How are we to respond to this?
Do we, like the young girl Mary, rejoice in the impossible and exalt God for lifting up the humble and filling the hungry with good things? Do we even care this Christmas whether the humble are lift up or the hungry fed? Or are we proud in our inmost thoughts, sitting on our thrones and sofas, expecting to be blessed by God in our riches but in fact sent away empty?
Does the coming of a savior who says blessed are the poor and blessed are the peacemakers inspire us, or threaten us? Do we have ears to hear what the spirit is saying?
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