Mary and the Magnificat

[HKHaugan]

Mary and the Magnificat

 When the Father picked Mary to bear and raise Jesus, this was a specific choice based on quality. Read the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, which is her response to the angel announcing she would bear the Lord Jesus and be His mother on earth. It is loaded with information about her. Every verse reflects a deep understanding of the Hebrew Scripture, its Messianic intent, her family’s Israeli history and her heritage. Let’s take it verse by verse.

 46-47. “And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” …Right away we can see we are dealing with a spiritually mature young lady here. She is quite aware of her spiritual nature. She has a soul. She is not some young adult-intimidated teenager, kind of shyly and automatically responding to an extra-terrestrial. This is a bright young spiritually oriented woman who is immediately aware she is in contact with an angel of the Lord. She is quite aware what it means. The One who sent the angel is the Lord, the Adonai of Israel.

 48 “…for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;”…She understands what it means to be humble, blessed, that is, uniquely touched by God. She has the insight into being chosen and especially blessed to bear the Messiah. She gets it.

 49 “for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” Mary knows the source and that source is holy, perfect, way beyond her. She knows what it means to be holy.

 50 “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” This reveals her grasp of Jewish history and the quality with which God deals with His people.

 51-52 “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;”…

She qualifies specifically the spiritual strength of God that challenges human pride and lifts up the lowly. Class, intellect and physical strength are neutralized by all being images of God.

 53 “he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” True hunger is spiritual hunger and those in poverty have been enriched. Her recognition of this shows her spiritual maturity.

 54-55 “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Here is the climactic statement that sets her course, shows her knowledge and how she was raised. She has realized the fulfillment of Israel’s hope, and that now, she is the bearer of that hope. Her being chosen was based on her background, parental raising, the spiritual influence to which she yielded in her growth from childhood.

 For men and women there are spiritual responses that make us who we are.

For men and their pride, it is the words of Jesus on the Cross, “"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done (Lk.22:42).”

For women and their need, it is Mary’s words when the angel speaks to her, ““Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word (Lk.1:38).”