My December newsletter article:

St. Luke records four Christmas classics in his gospel. Let’s take a lyric from the first one to meditate on this Christmas season.

“Magnificat” (sung by Mary, Luke 1:46-55)

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 mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty (50- 53).

Mary was a young lady of modest means betrothed to Joseph, a simple craftsman in Israel. They lived in the region of Galilee in a city called Nazareth. Israel was ruled by Rome at this time under Caesar Augustus. A virgin and a pious Jew of her day, Mary had been visited by an angel and told she would carry the promised Savior—the son of God. How? By the power of the Holy Spirit. It happened just as she was told. Yet even before this, the angel had visited her older cousin’s husband, Zechariah, and told him that his barren wife would give birth to the Messiah’s forerunner. It happened. We are even told that the elderly lady “for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people’” (Lk. 1:24b-25). Reproach? She was barren, childless. But not anymore! He opened her womb. God had visited her and also her young cousin.
So, Mary, having been told by the angel that Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her miraculous pregnancy “arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘… Behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord’” (Lk. 1:39-45). Mary responded with a song of praise.

What a story! Two obscure women of rural first century Israel. Both visited by the Lord of heaven and earth. One barren, the other a virgin. The older woman carrying the one prophesied by Isaiah and Malachi to come in the spirit of Elijah and blaze the trail of the coming kingdom of God (see Is. 40 and Mal. 3-4). The young lady carrying the promised Suffering Servant, a light to the Gentiled, a faithful disciple, and a perfect substitute for the sins of his people (see Is. 42, 49, 50, 52-53). What else could Mary do but sing!

Let’s consider three important themes in the excerpt above: the fear of the Lord, humility, and divine provision.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Mary sings of the mercy of the Lord that comes to those who fear him. The wise man told us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the psalmists add that the friendship of the LORD, compassion, and steadfast love are for those who fear him (see Pr. 9:10; Ps. 25:14; 103:11, 13). Mary knew her Bible and she knew her God. Let us approach our great God with reverence, awe, and wonder. Receive mercy, wisdom, friendship, and love—from the Lord!

He has scattered the proud … he has brought down the mighty. If there is one pair contrasting traits we see from the beginning of the Scripture to its end, it is pride and humility. God hates one and loves the other (cf. Pr. 6:16-19). Mary knew this and she sings about it. Two proverbs prove her point clearly. “It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” (Pr. 16:19; 21:4) Mary knew this truth in her youth and would experience it throughout her life. Let us take her words to heart—to both humble us and give us hope for the present and the future!

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. She anticipates the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ “upside down kingdom.” The first will be last and the last first. The sad will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. The Shepherd will indeed provide for his needy flock. We pray, give us this day our daily bread. The Good Shepherd would not only fill us with good things, but would know our names and would lay down his life for the sheep. Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? If you do, Jesus said you will be filled.

Mary’s hit tune is just what we need this Christmas. In a world and nation that is forsaking the God who brought us into existence, she reminds us—exhorts us—to fear the Lord. In a culture that is fueled by the highest octane of pride on the market, we are extolled to seek the gift of humility. After all, Jesus said of himself that he was gentle and humble in heart and that in him we could find rest for our souls (see Mt. 11:28-30). Finally, as you may perhaps struggle to afford the Christmas gifts you would like to give to your loved ones this Christmas, we have a promise stated in the present tense: he has filled the hungry with good things. And what is the best thing? Jesus prayed it for us the night before he died for sinners. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3).