Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 46-56
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
As we heard yesterday, Elizabeth confirms the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary. That's all the confirmation Mary needs. She sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history; the most important three decades in all of time are about to begin. And where is God? Occupying Himself with two obscure, humble women-one old and barren, one young and virginal. And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song--a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.
Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke's account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impresses him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth says (1:43): "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? And Mary says (1:48): The Lord has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden." The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary--people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the magnificent God.
Dear Lord, thru this passage you have lifted us to hope. Help us to open our lives to the coming of the Spirit. Help us to be like Mary. Her faith is a wonder of courage and strength. Inspire us to simply say yes to your call to witness. Thank you for this Advent journey. Our lives get so busy that we forget to focus. Thank you for guidance and thank you for the quiet moments when reading the scriptures we have felt your love.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
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