|
Canticle 15 The Song of Mary The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; From this day all generations will call me blessed: He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, He has filled the hungry with good things, He has come to the help of his servant Israel, The promise he made to our fathers, Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: |
To-do list
By way of refresher, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I’m guessing there’s still a lot that has not been crossed off your list, even if you’ve been checking it twice. So it may be time to take a deep breath and prioritize. Hit the pause button and consider the reason for the season. I know. None of us have time to do that. Which is precisely why we need to do that.
Here’s one way to do that. Turn to the song Mary sang when she began to wrap her mind around the miraculous prospect of being the God-bearer. In the version of the song we heard in church yesterday (reprinted in this email), Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord. In older (perhaps more familiar) translations, she magnifies the Lord. I want to suggest that such magnification is what we’re called to do as we enter into the celebrations of the next few days.
What might it mean to magnify the Lord? It is not about making God greater, as if that was our job or skill set. Rather it is widening our vision, enlarging our hearts, coming to recognize a bit more of the transcendent greatness which has been there for eternity and is actually beyond human comprehension.
That’s probably why the first way we magnify the Lord is by coming together for worship, as we claim that worship is at the heart of all we do. Maybe you come to church every week. Maybe you come to church only on Christmas and Easter. Whatever your pattern, use upcoming church gatherings over the next few days to focus on the mystery of a power greater than ourselves, a loving presence that chose to take on the form of a child. Marvel at the mystery of Immanuel, God with us.
Getting back to to-do list: Getting to church on Christmas can be rugged. Everyone needs to be dressed. Presents have not all been wrapped or even purchased. Children’s toys have not been assembled. What if someone drops by with a present and you have nothing to give in return? Family members squawk at each other. Somebody with whom you disagree insists on talking politics. Parking is a nightmare. People you’ve never seen in church commandeer the best pews, saving rows of seats. Recent experiences of loss and navigation of grief can make it feel hollow to sing “Joy to the World.”
But what would it mean to let all of that go and to sing with all our hearts: “O come let us adore him”?
Then what would it mean to let that worship experience spill over into all of life, to magnify the Lord not only with our lips but with our lives. Thank God that Christmas is more than just one day. It’s a season in which we might find opportunity to be of service, to continue the spirit of gift giving. Maybe there’s a chance to cheer someone in your orbit who battles loneliness or sadness. Maybe you and members of your household can help prepare a meal for people in need. Maybe you can go through the closet and find stuff you no longer use, delivering it to a place where it can find usefulness. Maybe there’s a way to strive for justice and peace.
Magnify the Lord this Christmas. Proclaim God’s greatness. Let every heart prepare him room, as heaven and nature sing. Merry Christmas, friends.
-Jay Sidebotham
